December 20, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to commence construction of the long-awaited Madh–Versova cable-stayed bridge by February 2026, after receiving in-principle approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). According to The Indian Express, the civic body has already begun preliminary surveys and soil investigations at the proposed site, signalling steady progress towards execution.
The ₹2,395-crore project is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Madh and Versova, two coastal areas currently separated by an indirect and congested road network. At present, commuters are forced to take an 18–20 km detour through busy routes such as Lokhandwala, Oshiwara, Link Road, and Marve Road, with peak-hour travel times stretching between one hour and 90 minutes.
Once completed, the 2.1-km-long bridge will offer a direct link between Madh Jetty Road and the Fisheries University Road area in Versova, crossing the creek waters in between. The new connection is expected to reduce travel time to around 10 minutes, greatly easing access to Air Force establishments, INS Hamla, Madh, Marve, and residential pockets of Malad and Kandivali.
Project details show the bridge will have a total length of 2.06 km, of which around 600 metres will comprise the cable-stayed structure. The main span will be 300 metres long, flanked by 150-metre back spans on either side. The design also includes a proposed connecting arm to the Dahisar–Bhayandar coastal road, enhancing regional connectivity.
Although the bridge has been discussed for decades—first appearing in Mumbai’s 1967 Development Plan—the blueprint was finalised only in 2020. Tenders were floated in March 2023, followed by the issuance of a work order in September of the same year. The project is slated for completion by March 31, 2029.
“While we have started preliminary surveys, full-fledged work will only commence after procuring the final Stage-II approvals from the forest department as well as the High Court permission. As per the current progression, work on the project site can be started by 15 February 2026,” a senior BMC officer was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Source: Swarajya
