Bandra Worli Sea Link: A Marvel of Engineering and Tourism in Mumbai

Bandra Worli Sea Link

📍 Bandra Worli Sea Link Toll Gate, MaharashtraView map ›

🗓 Best Time To Visit:October to March

⏰ Open Hours:24/7

🎫 Entry Fees:₹70 for car, ₹110 for SUVs, ₹195 for LCVs

👥 Traveller Types:Solo Travellers, Couples, Families, Friends, Photographers

📍 Distances:11.8 km from Mumbai Central, 16.4 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

📸 Known For:Architecture, Panoramic view of the Arabian Sea, City skyline

🧳 Things to do:Photography, Enjoy scenic drive, Spot city landmarks

💡 Tips:Avoid rush hours (8-10 am and 5-7 pm) to enjoy a smooth drive

🚗 Parking:No parking facility available on the bridge

♿ Accessibility:Wheelchair accessible

🎒 Budget:Depends on vehicle type; free for pedestrians and two-wheelers

Have you ever wondered how it feels to drive on a bridge that spans over the Arabian Sea and connects two of the busiest suburbs of Mumbai? If yes, then you should definitely visit the Bandra Worli Sea Link, one of the most iconic landmarks and attractions in the city.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, officially known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is a cable-stayed bridge that links Bandra in the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It is 5.6 km long and has eight lanes that can carry up to 37,500 vehicles per day. The Bandra Worli Sea Link was built to reduce the travel time between Bandra and Worli from 60-90 minutes to 10-15 minutes, by avoiding the traffic jams on the Mahim Causeway and other arterial roads. It also provides a faster and more convenient access to the business districts, airports, and other parts of the city.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Bandra Worli Sea Link, its history, architecture, significance, and tourism potential.

History

The idea of building a sea link between Bandra and Worli was first proposed in 1963 by Wilbur Smith and Associates as part of a traffic study for Mumbai. The project was approved by the Maharashtra State Government in 1999 and awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) in 2000. The construction began in 2002 and was completed in 2009. The sea link was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi on June 30th 2009.

The project faced several hurdles and criticisms during its construction, such as protests from fishermen who claimed that their livelihoods were affected by the sea link, petitions from environmentalists who argued that the sea link would damage the marine ecology and alter the coastline, lawsuits from contractors who demanded higher compensation for inflation and delays, accidents that resulted in injuries and deaths of workers and engineers, etc.

The project cost around Rs. 1,600 crore ($220 million), which was four times more than the original estimate. The project also saved around Rs. 100 crore ($14 million) per year in fuel costs and reduced carbon emissions by 1.2 lakh tonnes per year.

Architecture

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is a cable-stayed bridge with two main towers that support the bridge deck with steel cables. The bridge deck consists of pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts that span between the towers and the abutments at both ends. The towers are 126 m high and have a shape of an inverted “Y”.

Photo of Bandra Worli Sea Link 1/2 by — (c) Mumbai Tourism

The cables are arranged in a harp-like pattern and have a total length of 37 km. The bridge deck is 20 m wide and has four lanes on each side.

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is designed to resist wind speeds of up to 120 km/h and earthquakes of up to magnitude 7 on the Richter scale. The bridge deck is flexible enough to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. The pylons are anchored to the bedrock with deep foundations and piles.

The cables are coated with corrosion-resistant materials and have sensors to monitor their tension and vibration. The bridge also has an advanced traffic management system that controls the speed limit, lane discipline, toll collection, emergency services, etc.

Also read: Mumbai Maiden - A jewel cruise in the Arabian sea on Bandra- Worli sea link

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Bandra Worli Sea Link is during the monsoon season (June to September), when the sky is clear and the sea is calm. The best time of the day to visit the sea link is during the sunrise or sunset, when the bridge is illuminated by the natural light and the city skyline.

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is a great place to capture some stunning photos of the bridge and the cityscape. You can also enjoy the panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the Mumbai coastline from the bridge. You can also spot some landmarks and attractions along the way, such as the Haji Ali Dargah, the Mahalaxmi Temple, the Worli Fort, etc.

Tips for Visiting

The toll charges for using the Bandra Worli Sea Link are Rs. 70 ($1) for cars, Rs. 105 ($1.5) for buses, and Rs. 145 ($2) for trucks. The toll is collected only in one direction, from Bandra to Worli. The traffic rules on the sea link are strict and violators are fined or penalized. The speed limit on the sea link is 50 km/h and overtaking is prohibited.

There are no parking facilities on the sea link, so you have to park your vehicle at either end of the bridge. There are many nearby attractions that you can visit after crossing the sea link, such as Bandra Fort, Mount Mary Church, Siddhivinayak Temple, Nehru Planetarium, etc.

How To Reach Bandra-Worli Sea Link From Airport?

One of the ways to reach Bandra Worli Sea Link from the airport is by taking a bus. You can take the bus C-71Exp from Domestic Airport Junction to Mahim Phatak, and then take the line 1 bus from Mahim Bus Station to Bandra Reclamation Bus Station.

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is about 1.5 km from the Bandra Reclamation Bus Station. This route may take about 1 hour and 19 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. The total fare for this route is Rs. 30 - Rs. 45.

Another way to reach Bandra Worli Sea Link from the airport is by taking a taxi. You can hire a taxi from the airport and drive directly to the sea link. This route may take about 8 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. The approximate cost for this route is Rs. 170 - Rs. 210.

The Bandra Worli Sea Link is a remarkable feat of engineering and tourism in Mumbai. It connects two of the busiest suburbs of the city and reduces travel time and traffic congestion. It also offers a spectacular view of the Arabian Sea and the Mumbai skyline. It is a must-visit attraction for anyone who wants to experience the beauty and diversity of Mumbai.

If you are planning to visit Mumbai or Maharashtra, don’t miss the chance to drive on the Bandra Worli Sea Link and witness its majesty and elegance. You can also check out our other articles on Maharashtra Tourism and discover more amazing places and experiences in this state.

Bandra Worli Sea Link Reviews

Satyaki Acharya

39 Followers

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Despite the fact that the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT, erstwhile VT) in Mumbai is the second most clicked architecture in India according to an article in 2016, this fellow photographer's obsession in Mumbai has always been for something else. Most of the cities around the world have some architectural marvels which at some point in time go on to become their identifiers. Be it the Golden Gate bridge of San Francisco, the Burj Khalifa of Dubai, Sydney's Opera House or Mumbai's Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Built in a time of 10 years, the Bandra-Worli sea link or Rajiv Gandhi sea link,an8-lane freeway over the Mahim Bay connecting the suburbs of Bandra and Worli has been a pride of Mumbai. Not only did it reduce the travel time between the western and southern suburbs drastically, ever since its construction started it has been one of the favorite subjects for an ocean of photographers, amateur and professional. This architectural beauty has been a favorite in Bollywood too. Take for instance, "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na" where we find Aditi and Jai opening up to each other with the sea link being the sole witness of Jai trying to convince Aditi for staying back. Or in "Wake Up Sid" in the song "Boondon ke Moti..." where we get to see the rainy sealink. It would be a lie on my part to not accept the fact that movies like these have been a strong influence on me in moving my base to Mumbai. Well, if someone is new to the City of Dreams and is wondering how to catch a glimpse of this bridge, you can just head to Bandra fort, Worli fort, Dadar Chowpatty or can take a cab and ride through the link from Bandra to Worli or the other way. A midnight ride through the place with your loved one is nothing short of a stress buster. Although most of times, the sea link is lit up in white, there are occasions when the colour changes. Every year on March 26, the sea link goes for hue change to Purple in support of Epilepsy. Again on 24th September every year, the bridge turns Red on World Cancer Research day. The sea link has been a strong support for me in turning to a better photographer over the span of 3 years that I have been in Mumbai. Over the weekends or even during weekdays by taking half a day off, I would be running to one of the designated places to catch a sunset, get few frames for instagram and tripoto or just sit and relax after a not so great day in office. And trust me when I say the sunset from these places is something to die for; there will be no short of frames for photographers. This bridge has provided me with a frame which has gone on to get exhibited in one of the exhibitions in Mumbai.

Experienced Roads

89 Followers

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Bandra worli sealink When an unexpected four hours was left for us, my colleagues and I started searching for places near to Chatrapathi Sivaji airport, Mumbai .The only thought in our mind was to kill time. Somehow our eyes got struck at Bandra Worli Sealink which was hardly 10km away from the airport. We rented a car for two hours from airport and set out for the Mission kill-time, but it turned out to be a mesmerizing journey. On the way, we tasted the famous Indian burger, vadapav. We owe a huge thanks to our driver for suggesting us the vadapav in Samrat shop .From there we had hot spicy cheesy vadapav. This will fill tummy without emptying your pocket. No wonder why vadapav is the mostly consumed food in Mumbai.After gulping our food we continued our rove. A long distance sight of the sealink surely gave us the credit of right choice. I personally felt that this link is a boon for the people in Mumbai. The travel from Bandra to Worli used to take more than 45 minutes and massive traffic was a cherry on top. Now the time of travelling has turn down to 7-10 minutes. This spectacle eight lane cable stayed bridge which is officially known as Rajiv Gandhi sea link has become paramount for Mumbai .Personally I would tell the best time to visit here is at dusk hours, when the whole Mumbai is lighted up by the street lights. The best part of Mumbai is that she never sleeps, she is not bothered whether the sun is up or down or right on her face. The late night view of this architectural wonder embellished with light is worth watching. It made me feel proud that my country hold this marvellous architectural wonder. Google gave me a detailed information about this architectural marvel. This cable stayed tower weighs 50000 African elephants. I was stupefied to hear that if the cable wire used in the construction was kept in length then it could be as the circumference of the earth. That is probably a difficult fact to digest. It was joint venture of many skilled teams across various countries like India, Canada, China, Indonesia etc. The expenditure of this project which started as Rs13 billion then later ballooned to Rs16 billion. The sea link construction started in 2000 and was completed in 2010. It is for sure that the sea link is an amazing frame for all shutterbugs and one of the most commonly used film shooting spot.

oldskool_indian

117 Followers

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2) My city has a sea Link: Bandra Worli Sea Link - I've shut lot of my colleagues with this. At my work place, I had co-workers traveling to Mumbai for meets and training. They boasted way too much about their cities. I never understood their pride for their cities. Some bragged about Pune, some jazzed about Bangalore weather, one was from Jaipur and so on. They use to find gaps in conversation to divert the topic towards their city. I never understood this. I mean, I am proud of being an Indian. That too, now-a-days I have different way of looking at it. I think, I need to do some thing to make my country proud. Then it makes sense. Otherwise, whats the point being proud of its landscapes, rivers, nature - when we don't do a bit to keep it clean. The day we learn to keep our cities clean. From that day, I will feel proud of it. Okay, where were we. Right - Bandra Worli Sea link. So when these folks talk a lot. I simply ask them one thing, whether their cities has a sea link or not. And they go crazy. Because cities such as Pune & Bangalore can never get a sea link. They may get a bridge over lakes or river, but not sea link in this age at least. I never found this point getting older. I use it repeatedly and mock their disappointed face. Now Mumbai is set to get another Sea link and an underground Metro. Also underwater Bullet Train High Speed Railway network. O ho, how could I forget Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue and coastal roads. Ha ha ha ha. I have so many points to pound them in future. Certainly, my future is full of laughter. By the way, I am eagerly waiting for the coastal roads. Bandra Worli sea link is ideal if you enjoy driving. Even Lewis Hamilton drove his F1 car on this bridge.

Jinal shah

25 Followers

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One of the best features of Bandra Worli Sea Link is that it helped in reducing the travel time to just 7-10 minutes which took about 45 minutes to an hour before. The bridge is also proposed to link the parts of western Mumbai with Nariman Point to make it easy for the citizens to visit the main business centre. How to Reach Bandra–Worli Sea Link One can reach Bandra Worli Sea Link from either side of the bridge. The nearest bus stand to Bandra Worli Sea Link is located 2 km away and the nearest railway station is the Bandra Railway station. The railway station is 5 km far from Bandra Worli Sea Link. Otherwise, the most viable ways to reach Bandra Worli Sea Link is through a taxi or auto rickshaw which are easily available. Best Time to Visit Bandra–Worli Sea Link One of the best times to visit the famous Bandra Worli Sea Link is during the time of rainy season. This is when the atmosphere to visit here is quite great and offers a nice weather for the tourists to enjoy a long ride. Otherwise, the best time to visit during the time of the day and appreciate the wonder of this exquisite piece of modern architecture by enjoying a smooth ride on the link and treating the eyes with a stunning view of the sea below.

Priti Gumber

122 Followers

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The Bandra–Worli Sea Link is a 5.6 km long, 8-lane wide bridge that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It is the 4th longest bridge in India. It is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side.The view and beauty of the bridge at night is a sight to behold as the stay cables are entirely lit and the vehicles running on the bridge make an amazing photo opportunity for all photography enthusiasts.