The Palghar district administration has proposed a 700-metre marine bridge to establish permanent road connectivity between Wadhiv and Vaiti villages and the mainland, addressing a long-standing access problem caused by their location amid the Vaitarna River.
The proposed bridge is estimated to cost Rs 25.95 crore. The administration has submitted the technical proposal, engineering drawings, village layouts, satellite images and other supporting documents to the Maharashtra government, seeking the necessary administrative and financial approvals.
At present, residents of Wadhiv and Vaiti largely depend on water transport. People travel towards the Kandarvan jetty and then cross around 600 metres of the river by private boats before continuing towards Palghar and Saphale. This dependence becomes particularly difficult during adverse weather and limits reliable access to essential services.
Students Face Major Connectivity Challenges
The lack of an all-weather road has also affected education. Schools within the villages provide classes only up to Class VII, forcing students to travel outside for higher secondary education.
Around 25 to 30 students are reportedly required to commute for Classes VIII to XII. Residents also need regular access to Palghar, Saphale and the Vasai-Virar region for employment, healthcare, markets and other essential needs.
The issue drew wider attention after images emerged showing students using a railway route while travelling outside Wadhiv. The pathway is intended for railway maintenance personnel and is not authorised as a public pedestrian route, highlighting the risks created by the absence of a dedicated road connection.
Multiple Alignments Examined
Before finalising the proposal, officials studied several possible bridge alignments, including routes from Kandarvan, Navghar and the Vaitarna railway station side. The options were assessed on bridge length, structural feasibility, accessibility and overall cost.
The presence of nearby railway infrastructure means coordination with railway authorities will also be necessary during the project’s planning and construction stages.
The administration is additionally examining whether existing infrastructure can be incorporated into the eventual connectivity plan to control costs and make better use of public assets. Improvements to temporary access arrangements are also being considered until the permanent bridge is approved and built.
Once completed, the proposed bridge could replace the current dependence on boats and risky informal routes with a safer, all-weather road connection. It would improve access to schools, hospitals, markets and employment centres while making emergency travel more reliable.
For Wadhiv and Vaiti, the project could provide a crucial physical link to the wider Palghar road network and address a connectivity challenge that has persisted because of the villages’ difficult geography.
Source: Prop News Time
