November 05, 2025: The Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the revised design and cost structure of the ambitious Uttan-Virar Sea Link project. The redesigned plan, which reduces the number of lanes from eight to six and scales down the width of ramps and supporting structures, is expected to lower project costs by over Rs 30,000 crore.
Earlier estimated at Rs 87,427 crore, the project’s revised design was presented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) after a detailed review initiated in June. The new design aims to optimise construction while ensuring smooth traffic flow, taking inspiration from Mumbai’s coastal road model.
Spanning 24.35 km across the Arabian Sea, the Uttan-Virar Sea Link will connect the western suburbs of Uttan, Vasai, and Virar, with a total network length of 55.12 km, including three key connectors — the Uttan connector (9.32 km), the Vasai connector (2.5 km), and the Virar connector (18.95 km). Notably, the Virar connector will now link directly to the Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway via Palghar district, integrating the sea link with the proposed Vadhawan Port corridor.
MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said, “We have rationalised the cost by re-designing the project with the help of scientific studies on traffic and construction. So not only will we save over ₹30,000 crore, but we will also connect this project with the metro lines and make it a larger part of our ‘Mumbai In Minutes’ project.”
The “Mumbai In Minutes” initiative aims to link all parts of the city within 59 minutes through integrated transport networks.
In the same meeting, the cabinet also cleared the construction of a 66-km ring road in Nashik ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela and directed Pune authorities to extend the Hadapsar-Saswad project up to the Purandar Airport, with plans for metro access and parking facilities.
Source: Hindustan Times
