Versova-Virar Sea Link Inches Closer To Enactment, MMRDA Seeks Consultant For DPR Peer Review

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has commenced the process of hiring a consultant for the peer review of Versova Virar Sea Link’s Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The project's feasibility report has been undertaken by Pentacle-Cemosa joint venture and the company is currently conducting various surveys to finalise draft, as well as final DPR of the project.

However, given the intricate nature of the project, the MMRDA has decided to appoint a consultant for peer review of both the feasibility study and DPR, along with the preparation of the bid document.

MMRDA has implemented the peer review practice, citing it as an embodiment of the "best industry practices."

The review will help determine the appropriateness of the planned alignment, assess the potential for mitigating or avoiding obstacles such as relief and rehabilitation of project-affected persons, address environmental challenges seamlessly, whether any better alternatives are available, scrutinise cost estimates among other considerations.

For those unversed, the Versova-Virar Sea Link is a proposed 42.75-km eight-lane elevated road that will connect Versova, a western suburb of Mumbai, to Virar, a satellite town in the city’s larger urban agglomeration of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The objective of the project is to provide high speed and high capacity north- south corridor as an alternative route of transport for commuting to the northern suburbs of Mumbai and its Metropolitan Region.

According to the feasibility study, the sea link shall originate at the Versova Connector of the under construction Versova-Bandra Sea Link. Following the origination, the main sea link shall traverse a distance of 42.75 km in the marine till Virar, along the Western Coast.

The Sea Link is proposed to have four major connectors which shall provide connectivity with the regions of Charkop, Mira Bhayander, Vasai and Virar.

Estimated to cost Rs 63,426 crore, the Versova-Virar sea link project has already got cabinet approval and will be executed by MMRDA.

The decision to opt for developing a sea link came based on options given by Tata Consulting Engineers in its pre-feasibility report ordered by the government via Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in 2019.

The Versova-Virar sea link was earlier to be built by the MSRDC. However, the project was transferred to the MMRDA in October last year.