India’s Marvel: Bandra Worli Sea Link to open today

The Rs.1,600 crore (Rs.16 billion), 5.6-km Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), India’s first open 8-lane, cable-supported sea bridge that will reduce traffic congestion in this metro, was inaugurated by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Tuesday.

The BWSL inauguration will be held at the northern end of the sea bridge which joins Worli in south Mumbai with Bandra in north Mumbai, the official told IANS here Sunday.

In construction for over 10 years, the new link between the southern island city and the northwest suburbs will be an alternative to the existing Mahim Causeway.

Currently, a daily traffic volume of over 1.4 million vehicles causes massive traffic snarls, especially during the morning-evening peak hours.

The distance of 8 km between Bandra and Worli currently takes 60-90 minutes to cover during the morning-evening peak hours.

Watch the videos online

Bandra Worli Sea Link

Bandra-Worli Sea Link, (Fireworks), Mumbai, Maharashtra – India

Bandra Worli Sea Link – Bridge Architecture Animation

Highlights:

1. India’s first eight-lane freeway over the open sea Hailed as a modern Indian engineering marvel
2. Its weight is equivalent to 50000 African elephants
3. The length of the bridge is 63 times the height of the Qutub Minar in Delhi
4. The height of the cable-stayed tower is 126m, which is equal to a 43-storey tower
5. The length of steel wires used in the project is equivalent to the circumference of the Earth
6. Each cable can take a weight of 900 tons
7. Is built by a skilled team comprising of the best engineers from India, as well as, other countries including Britain, Canada, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Serbia, Singapore and Switzerland.
8. Monitored by an Intelligent Bridge System with a 16-lane, state-of-the-art toll plaza