Heatwave pushes installation of Mumbai Coastal Road's bow-string bridge girder to April 26

The scorching heatwave gripping Mumbai has compelled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to delay the installation of a vital girder for the 'bow-string' bridge, linking Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) to Mumbai Coastal Road, by one week. The decision comes amidst temperatures soaring beyond 37°C, with a recent record-breaking high of 39.7°C on April 16. Originally slated for April 18-19, the installation will now occur around April 25-26 due to prevailing weather conditions.

The prefabricated girders, transported from Nhava Jetty to Worli, will be launched over water due to land constraints at the site. The decision comes in the wake of a severe heatwave warning issued by the weather bureau, coinciding with a record-breaking temperature of 39.7 °C on April 16, the highest in over a decade.

Citing safety concerns amid extreme weather conditions, BMC officials emphasised the need for caution. The girders, already loaded and prepared, will depart for Mumbai once weather conditions improve.

The Coastal Road Project, priced at ₹13,000 crore, aims to establish a 10.58-km-long high-speed corridor from BWSL to Marine Drive, with the girder's installation marking the completion of the initial phase. Despite challenges like shallow waters and thin bedrock density in Worli, authorities remain committed to project completion.

Presently, the Coastal Road operates within restricted hours, with officials targeting full operational status by the end of May.