Worli-Haji Ali sea link on track

The Maharashtra government on Friday indicated it would go ahead with construction of the 7.2-km sea link between the city areas of Worli and Haji Ali. The move comes as a major relief for Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra), which had bagged the project through competitive bidding.

The state government said on Friday it had discussed both the sea link project and the coastal road project at a meeting with Union minister for environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh told the state government the coastal road based on part reclamation, might not be allowed under the revised CRZ notification.

The minister suggested the state government obtain legal opinion and study the coastal road project before approaching the MoEF. The MoEF and the Maharashtra government have also agreed to set up a joint technical committee to look into the possibility of developing a coastal road for Mumbai.

So far, the fate of the Worli-Haji Ali project was hanging in balance as the state government had said the coastal road project would be cheaper and could be an alternative to the proposed sea link.

The sea link project was awarded by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to R-Infra in Feburary 2010. The project cost of Rs 5,100 crore includes the one-time upfront payment of Rs 1,634 crore to the state government to take over the existing Worli-Bandra sea link.

According to the concessional agreement, R-Infra will have to build the new sea link in 42 months.

Bipin Shrimali, vice chairman and managing director of MSRDC told Business Standard: “Construction of the proposed 7.2 km sea link between Worli and Haji Ali by RInfra will take place. Currently, the company is in the midst of achieving a financial closure. Once the company completes the financial closure and other formalities, it can start construction.” He said the coastal road project would also be explored for Mumbai.

Jairam said the proposed coastal road project is one of the component of a Rs 34,000 crore Garland Freeway or outer ring road project for Mumbai being proposed by MSRDC. The project also includes tunnel, sea links.

RInfra spokesman said “The company has submitted all the necessary dcouments including committments from banks for meeting the project cost.There has been a series of discussions with MSRDC to achieve financial closure at the earliest. The company has finalised the design of the new bridge and the equipment required for the construction. The company wll take over the project by the middle of June and start construction for the new link. The project is expected to be commissioned in 42 months (September 2014).”