The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to seek final clearance from the Bombay High Court to commence work on the much-anticipated Madh-Versova Bridge project, edging closer to realisation after almost 60 years of delay.
Spanning 2.06 kilometres, the new bridge will connect the jetties at Madh and Versova across the creek, dramatically reducing the current 90-minute commute—via JP Road, Link Road, and Mith Chowky—to less than five minutes. At present, crossings of Versova Creek rely solely on boats, which are often inaccessible during the monsoon season, causing significant inconvenience to thousands of residents in Madh, Aksa, Bhatti, Erangal, and surrounding areas.
Estimated to cost between ₹2,395 crore and ₹3,984 crore, inclusive of overheads and land acquisition, the bridge will also serve as a feeder route to the proposed Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road, enhancing connectivity from Malad and other western suburbs to Versova and beyond.
The project, dormant for decades, gained momentum post-2015 following comprehensive environmental assessments. Tendering began in 2019, with final Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approval granted in early 2024. Responding to concerns raised by the Union Environment Ministry over ecological damage to mangroves, a redesigned cable-stayed bridge featuring minimal pillars and a 100-metre stainless steel pylon resistant to sea corrosion has been planned. To protect fishing communities, the Versova approach road has been realigned to bypass local hamlets.
Work orders were issued in September after the BMC restarted tendering in March. Of the total budget, ₹1,598 crore is allocated for land acquisition and administrative costs.
Local fishermen and daily commuters have long championed the bridge, citing its potential to cut travel time and reduce costs for essential supplies, healthcare, and education access. However, residents caution that without adequate supporting infrastructure at both ends, the improved connectivity could lead to traffic congestion.
As Mumbai’s Coastal Road project remains under construction, the Madh-Versova Bridge promises much-needed relief and stands poised to close a six-decade chapter of planning and anticipation.
Source: Urban Acres
