Bandra-Worli Sea Link (Alyssa Lobo)

A MISSING LINK?

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is often cited as the symbol of a progressive Mumbai, a city which looks forward to a bright future, carried on the wings of economy and development. Officially known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, the bridge opened to the public on 30, June 2009. It has eight proposed traffic lanes, including two for buses. However, only four lanes are in working condition. The project was expected to be completed by March 2010 but there continue to be delays in its completion. It has been praised as an engineering marvel, although many have commented that it is a marvel that the project was completed at all. The construction took over ten years and faced several delays including protests from local fishermen demanding higher compensation for the loss of their regular fishing grounds. There was even a political controversy regarding the naming of the bridge. The Shiv Sena insisted that the bridge be named after the popular Marathi freedom fighter Veer Savakar , while the Congress led U.P.A. defended it’s choice as Rajiv Gandhi brought about a technological revolution to India. It was thus only fitting to name India’s latest engineering and technological marvel after the pioneer of modern India.Never the less, it is India’s first bridge constructed in open sea conditions.

On the Bandra end of the Sea Link are the offices of the M.R.S.D.C and Hindustan Construction Corporation, the company which has constructed the bridge.

The Sea Link was open, toll free for 5 days for the public after the inauguration and many took the opportunity to experience what maybe their only joyride over the bridge and take in the impressive view of Mahim bay.

Triveni Kulkarni, 21, student, who lives close to the Bandra end of the Sea Link says, “There’s a traffic jam every other day, the road is very narrow. It has helped me reach town in time and is very convenient. The planning for the project was good.” The construction process didn’t disturb her much. In fact, she feels that one of the good developments regarding the Sea Link is the special lanes for buses.

However the only way to see the Sea Link is by car, literally. The only bus which is within a reasonable fare rate is number 31. If you ask an early morning jogger on the adjoining flyover about the frequency of buses over the Link, he’d probably reply that there is no such thing.

Buses which ply the route over the Sea Link generally take Re.1 extra on each ticket. However these buses are few and far between. Most buses which travel over the Sea Link are either limited numbers or A/C buses. These buses are rare and generally have a higher ticket rate anyway. They are inaccessible to most people, so that essentially the Sea Link caters to the higher economic classes. Common people can’t afford the heavy toll, even though it had been decreased from 100 rupees to 50 rupees per trip.

In addition to this the bus stop itself is difficult to reach. It is situated just before the toll booths on the Sea Link. The only way to reach the bus stop is by climbing up a road which leads off the flyover. This is not only problematic, but dangerous. Cars coming off the Link or the flyover travel at high speeds, and with barely any provisions for pedestrians. There are signs cautioning drivers about maintain the speed limit but this is hardly helpful since the road curves sharply as it descends.

In light of these facts, one wonders: Is this the face of a city looking towards its shining future? Or another diversion from its less than perfect present?