New Four-Lane Versova Bridge to Ease Mumbai-Surat Commute

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Mumbai commuters can now breathe a sigh of relief as the newly constructed four-lane bridge on Versova creek is all set to open to the public from Monday. The 918-metre-long balanced cantilever bridge, built at a cost of over ₹247 crore, will provide a significant respite from traffic jams across the Versova creek on the Mumbai-Surat corridor.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari shared the blueprint image of the site and announced the opening of the bridge to the public. He stated that the bridge will provide significant traffic relief to the Mumbai-Surat corridor, particularly across the Versova creek.

Presently, National Highway 8 has two bridges on either side of the Versova bridge near Ghodbunder, with the one downstream of the bridge being in a poor state. After being restored in 2013–2014, it was made public with a maximum load restriction of 15 tonnes. Due to the heavy traffic between Mumbai and Surat, the National Highways Authority of India began building a second four-lane Versova bridge in 2018.

The project began on the Surat side of NH 8 with a total length of 2.25 km, including the balanced cantilever bridge of 917.875 meters and both approaches of 1.33 km. The Thane MP Rajan Vichare recently went to the bridge’s construction site to check on its progress.

The new bridge is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in the area, especially during peak hours. It is likely to ease the burden on the existing bridges, which were overburdened with traffic. With the new bridge in place, commuters can now look forward to a smoother and faster commute between Mumbai and Surat.

The bridge’s construction was completed in record time, considering the scale of the project. The new bridge will also provide a boost to the economy of the region, as it will facilitate faster movement of goods and people between Mumbai and Surat. The new bridge is an important addition to Mumbai’s infrastructure, which has been grappling with the challenge of increasing traffic congestion for a long time.

With the opening of the new bridge, the government has taken a significant step towards addressing this issue and improving the quality of life for Mumbai’s residents. Overall, the new bridge is a welcome development that is likely to bring much-needed relief to Mumbai’s commuters and help boost the region’s economy.