Metro set to match sea link with cable-stayed bridge

“Work on the pylons will begin by next week. We expect the cable-stayed bridge to be ready by February,” said K P Maheshwari,director of Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd,which is building the first Metro corridor.

Cable-stayed bridges are built with one or more columns called pylons with cables supporting the bridge’s deck. Such bridges allow doing away with the construction of piers on the ground where there are obstacles or lack of space.

The cable-stayed portion is one of the crucial parts of the 11.4 km route. It will run perpendicular to the highway and the flyover at a height equivalent to that of a 10-storey building. The flyover itself is 13 metres high.

MMOPL officials say there will be three spans. The main span over the flyover will be 83 metres long; the other two on either side of the flyover will stretch 46 metres.

MMOPL engineers will be aided by Swiss firm VSL International Ltd,experienced in building such bridges.

Meanwhile,construction of the VAG corridor,scheduled to be completed by the year-end,is now expected to be completed by February. The prime reason for the delay has been the finalisation of the design for a portion over the railway lines at Andheri. The MMOPL also has to get right of way for around 2 km,in parts,from the MMRDA.