"25,000-Ton Girder Installed, Connecting Mumbai's Coastal Road and Sea Link"

In a groundbreaking engineering feat, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) successfully installed a 25,000-ton girder, connecting the southbound corridor of Mumbai's coastal road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. According to a release from BMC, the process to launch the bow-string-arch-type girder, spanning 136 metres, at Worli began at 2 am on Friday and was completed by 3:25 am.

This installation marks the first time such a massive girder has been launched in India, particularly in the sea, showcasing a significant engineering milestone. The girder, which measures 18 to 21 metres in width, links the 10.5-kilometre coastal road stretch with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, improving connectivity in the area.

The southbound corridor of the coastal road between Worli and Marine Lines opened for traffic on March 11 this year, but it had not yet been connected with the sea link until this installation.

The BMC previously indicated that another 143-meter long, 26-29 meter wide girder for the coastal road's northbound corridor has arrived at Nhava Sheva port, with its launch planned for the end of May. The transportation of the second girder will be scheduled following the successful installation of the first.

To withstand saline water and humidity, the girders are painted with anti-rust coatings, ensuring long-term durability. The BMC also ensured that the installation process wouldn't disrupt the activities of fishing boats along the Worli coast.

"With the success of this first-of-its-kind experiment in India, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation added a new feather in its cap," the release stated, underscoring the significance of this achievement in the context of India's infrastructure development.

ET