Maharashtra Govt Proposes New Sea Link Between Versova & Virar

Before this, the MSRDC will conduct a “pre-feasibility” study to gauge the traffic on the route till 2050.

Representational Image of Versova-Virar Sea Link.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

In an attempt to improve traffic in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has proposed to build another sea-link on its Western Coast, from its western suburb of Versova to Virar, The Print reported.

However, before proper preparations for this project are taken up, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is the state agency overlooking the project, will conduct a “pre-feasibility study” for the proposed sea link to gauge an estimation of traffic on that route till 2050, the report added.

“This study will be useful to determine the traffic via different modes on the route and conduct an estimation until 2050 and beyond. It will help us with broad cost estimates, indicate technical and economic feasibility, as well as suggest best possible alignments for the sea link,” an MSRDC official told The Print.

The Versova-Virar Sea-Link is expected to be an extension of the existing Bandra-Versova Sea-Link, the construction for which began in October, 2018.

The MSRDC has pinned out the entry and exit points for the Versova-Virar Sea-Link, which will be at Malad, Kandivali, Gorai, Bhayander, Vasai and Virar, the report added.

However, the total cost and length of the newly proposed flyover, is yet to be known.

The idea behind the project is to establish a “ring route” or “garland road” around the city, along with five other roads, all connected to each other. These are also in the pre-planning process, the agency told The Print.

On the city’s eastern side, the existing Eastern Expressway, which begins from Thane, and the Eastern Freeway, an elevated road from Ghatkopar to south Mumbai, makes up what the state agency body has termed the “garland expressway”.

Another project, this time under the supervision of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), proposes to connect the eastern and western sides of Mumbai, which calls for an elevated road to be built which will link the proposed Sewri-Nhava Sheva trans-harbour link to the Eastern Freeway and the existing Bandra-Worli sea link, the report added.

(With inputs from The Print)