After the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids on 4 January, Larsen and Toubro and J Kumar Infraprojects filed proposals for the civil construction of a new bridge between Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade.

The new bridge is about a 1.6-kilometre, four-lane, sea link project connecting Nariman Point and Colaba in south Mumbai.

This bridge is expected to reduce the driving distance between the two points to just five minutes.

MMRDA had invited tenders for its civil construction in November 2022, with a Rs 315 crore budget on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis.

This project will be Mumbai's third sea link at the southern tip of Mumbai after the Bandra-Worli and Sewri-Nhava Sheva bridges.

The bids have been sent out for technical review, which might take a few months. The financial bids of the technically qualifying bidders will next be opened to disclose the lowest bidder, who is most likely to be the contractor, reports Metrorailguy.

MMRDA plans to complete the civil work within two years following the contractor's appointment

To relieve traffic congestion in Mumbai's southern business district, the 2008 Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS) proposed a Cuffe Parade-Nariman Point bridge.

The distance between Colaba and Nariman Point is only a little over a kilometre, but using the city's road network requires about five kilometres, which can take over 20 minutes during rush hour.

Residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade will benefit from easier access to the Coastal Road via Nariman Point.

The projected sea link will build a ring road around Mumbai when combined with already completed, continuing, and planned developments.

As part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, MMRDA appointed LEA International Limited, Canada in a joint venture with LEA Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd. India as a consultant to conduct a Comprehensive Transport Study and Business Plan to improve traffic and transportation facilities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

There are obstacles to the project. Security clearances may be difficult to get, because the link will pass through a high-security zone through naval and coast guard areas.

Environmental clearance may be difficult to get because some reclamation may be required.