India’s longest arch bridge is taking shape as steel girders for the bow-string arch bridge connecting Mumbai’s Coastal Road to the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) arrive in Worli. The 136-meter girder, weighing 2,000 metric tonnes, was transported via the Arabian Sea from the Nhava Sheva jetty in Raigad. This bridge, traversing through open sea waters, will claim the title of India’s lengthiest arch bridge, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The girders arrived in Mumbai around 4 am on Thursday and will be launched at night. The launching process involves affixing and centering the barges in a particular position using winches to prevent drifting. They will then be hoisted and erected, a process expected to take over two hours. Once launched, the girders will be concretized to lay asphalt roads, following waterproofing. The remaining work is estimated to take around one month.
Originally scheduled for April 18-19, the girder’s launch was delayed due to Mumbai’s heatwave. The construction of this bridge has been challenging for civic authorities, with girders being launched in waters due to space constraints in Worli. This launch marks the final step of the project, providing the main access point for vehicles entering and exiting the coastal road from BWSL.
The bridge’s construction is part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), which aims to reduce travel time and congestion along the city’s western coast. Once completed, the bridge will significantly improve connectivity between South Mumbai and the western suburbs, benefiting thousands of commuters daily. The project is also expected to boost economic development in the region by enhancing accessibility to key areas and improving overall transportation infrastructure.
