Having bagged one of the largest EPC contracts of the state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) will construct the 17.17 km long Versova-Bandra Sea Link (VBSL) at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore. The RInfra, which was awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract by the MMRDA on Monday, expects to ready in 60 months the VBSL, which is three times Mumbai’s current iconic Worli-Bandra Sea Link (WBSL) of 5.6 km.
The work on the Versova-Bandra Sea Link is being undertaken nine years after the WBSL — known officially as the Rajiv Gandhi Setu, was thrown open to traffic on March 24, 2010. The VBSL is expected to cut down commute time between Worli and Versova from 90 minutes to 10 minutes. The existing WBSL carries 10 lakh vehicles per annum. The VBSL, once completed, is estimated to serve to serve nearly one crore vehicles annually, according to R-Infra.
“Mumbaikars can look forward to drastic savings in their fuel cost besides an eco-friendly travel with minimal carbon footprint,” a R-Infra spokesperson said.
R-Infra has already completed the works related to soil investigation, in partnership with M/s. Fugro Ltd, and engineering design, in partnership with M/s. Dar Al Handasah. MSRDC is expected to finalise the location of casting yard for the work to start on the project.
R-Infra’s ED and CEO Punit Garg said: “This project will further propel Reliance Infrastructure as a premier E&C company in India. Our partnership with Astaldi S.p.A, the third biggest construction player in the world in bridges, will help us create a truly world class mega infrastructure project for Mumbai”.
The VBSL is part of the Western Freeway Sea Link (WFSL) project which is to be implemented in a phased manner. The Phase I of the project comprises the present 5.6 km long , officially named Rajiv Gandhi Setu. The Phase II of the project is sub-divided into the 3.3 km long Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link and the 10 km long Haji Ali-Nariman Point Sea Link. The VBSL will be connected with the existing Worli-Bandra Sea Link (WBSL).