Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority Clears Revised Design For Bandra–Versova Sea Link Connectors

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the revised design of the Juhu and Versova connectors of the Bandra-Versova Sea Link, a project currently 30 per cent complete and now slated to be operation by May 2028, Hindustan Times reported.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is executing the project, submitted modifications aimed at easing congestion and addressing concerns raised by local stakeholders.

As per the revised plan, the Versova connector will now come up to Juhu Circle instead of Nana Nani Park, while the Juhu connector will terminate at Relief Road instead of Juhu Tara Road.

A senior MSRDC official explained that the redesign is meant to decongest the area and also accommodate local needs.

“This is being done to avoid traffic congestion in the area. Besides, a navigational span of 120 metres will be installed at the Juhu connector for fishermen,” the official said.

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The proposal also details an extension of the Juhu connector towards the Western Express Highway (WEH) to allow better dispersal of vehicles.

Similarly, the Versova connector will now include a cable-stayed bridge linking it to the WEH.

The changes, MSRDC said, will also help minimise mangrove loss and reduce traffic bottlenecks at the previously planned endpoints.

To meet demands raised by local fishermen, there will be a relocation of one navigational span (120 metres) on the main alignment and the addition of a new navigational span of 120 metres on the Juhu connector.

The redesign, however, increases land requirements.

The project will now need 4.36 hectares of forest land instead of the earlier 1.37 hectares, along with 17.98 hectares of non-forest land. A total of 178 trees will be cut for expansion.

Originally estimated at Rs 11,332.82 crore, the 9.8-km sea link’s cost has risen to Rs 18,120.96 crore due to delays and design changes, a hike of nearly Rs 6,788 crore.

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