January 6, 2026: Construction of the Versova–Bandra Sea Link (VBSL), a key component of Phase 2 of the Mumbai Coastal Road project, has achieved a major milestone by reaching its farthest point into the Arabian Sea—approximately 900 metres from the city’s shoreline between Bandra and Juhu, officials familiar with the progress said. The piling work for the sea link, officially named the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Sagari Setu, is currently in progress.
Simultaneously, work has commenced on cable-stayed bridges for four major connectors—Bandra, Carter Road, Juhu Koliwada, and Versova. To support marine construction, ready-mix concrete plants have been installed on floating jetties at locations where pillars are being erected, enabling continuous offshore operations.
Once completed, the 25-km VBSL will form a critical junction, linking the Nariman Point–Worli section of the coastal road and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link in the south with the Versova–Kandivali–Bhayandar coastal corridor in the north. The project is being executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and is designed for a lifespan of 100 years. Officials confirmed that permissions have been secured for the removal of 1,585 mangroves as part of the project.
“This project remained stuck in discussions for a decade, but our double-engine government has achieved 26% physical progress with a firm May 2028 deadline,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Engineers on site highlighted the complexity of the construction. “Unlike the Atal Setu, which was built over a creek, this is far more challenging as it is on the sea,” said an engineer at the site. “The waves are extremely choppy, the soil is a mix of hard volcanic rock and clay, with the connectors passing over reefs. We are maintaining a depth of 15 to 30 metres, depending on the need for installing these pillars. Due to rapid climate change, the on-site conditions are a big challenge. At times, it takes two to three hours to ferry the materials, though it is 900 meters from the bay.”
The larger Mumbai Coastal Road (North) project will span nearly 60 km, including interchanges and access roads. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel time between Versova and Bhayandar from 90–120 minutes to just 15–20 minutes, with overall completion targeted for December 2028.
