The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has given in-principle approval to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for constructing the much-awaited Rs 2,395 crore Versova-Madh cable-stayed bridge.
The announcement was made by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal, who said the project marks a major step in improving connectivity in Mumbai’s western suburbs.
A big boost for coastal connectivity
The new bridge will drastically reduce travel time between Versova and Madh Island to just 10 minutes, compared to the current 45–60 minutes during rush hours.
Currently, commuters rely on long road routes via Link Road, SV Road, or the Western Express Highway, or depend on ferry services that often get disrupted during monsoons.
“This bridge will form a direct connectivity between Madh Island and Versova, removing the need for long detours and ferry services. To meet the future traffic needs, the bridge will be integrated with the upcoming coastal road that will connect Versova with Bhayander,” Goyal said by issuing a statement.
The project, originally envisioned in Mumbai’s 1967 Development Plan (DP), had remained on paper for decades. Goyal added that his office had been actively following up on the project to ensure all necessary approvals were granted.
Versova-Madh bridge project details
The BMC floated tenders for the project in March 2023, with work orders issued in September the same year. The final project cost stands at Rs 2,395 crore, around 33% higher than the initial estimate of Rs 1,800 crore. Civic officials explained that the cost increase is because of the revised market rates, labour and material expenses, and the inclusion of GST.
According to the blueprint, the bridge will be 2.06 km long and fully cable-stayed. Authorities have set a three-year deadline for completion and aim to begin construction by the end of this year.
Environmental and legal clearances
Since the project passes through mangrove-rich areas and the Marve Creek, it required environmental clearance from multiple agencies. The MoEFCC’s approval was a major hurdle, as the alignment cuts through Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) land.
Civic officials said now that all the major permissions are in place, the next step will be to approach the Bombay High Court since the project will pass above creeks and mangroves.
“The bridge will pass above the Marve creek, which falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area. Therefore, we have to inform the HC about the green cover that will be impacted and present our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. We have already secured permission from the forest department and the state coastal management authority. After the final NOC comes from the HC, we will go ahead with the construction work,” The Indian Express quoted an official as saying.
The project had faced earlier objections from the local Koli fishing community, who feared the bridge’s alignment would disturb their fishing grounds and affect boat parking. In March 2022, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) asked the BMC to revise the alignment to minimise environmental damage.
“The new alignment ensures minimum damage to the environment, and the bridge will be entirely cable-stayed, which means that we will carry out piling work at a limited capacity,” the official added.
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