26 April,2024 02:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Girder installed by BMC/ screengrab
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has successfully installed a massive 25,000-ton girder connecting the southbound lane of Mumbai Coastal Road to the Bandra Worli Sea Link. The civic body issued a statement announcing the achievement.
The installation of the 136-metre-long bow-string-arch-type girder at Worli began at 2 am and was completed by 3.25 am. This engineering feat is the first of its sort in India, involving installation at sea, reported PTI.
According to the report, the girder, which is 18 to 21 metres wide, would connect the 10.5-kilometer section of coastal road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The southbound corridor of the coastal road between Worli and Marine Lines opened for traffic on March 11 of this year, but it was not connected to the sea link until now.
Furthermore, another girder measuring 143 metres long and 26-29 metres broad for the coastline road's northbound sector has arrived at Nhava Sheva port. Its installation is scheduled for the end of May, following the launch of the first girder, the report added.
"Another 143-meter long, 26-29 meter wide girder of the coastal road's northbound corridor has also reached Nhava Sheva port and its launch is planned for May-end. The transportation of the second girder will be planned after the launch of the first girder," the BMC had said earlier per the PTI report.
Anti-rust paint has been applied to the girders to protect them from the effects of salinity and humidity. This safeguard guarantees that fishing vessels off the Worli coast do not encounter any difficulties.
"These girders, painted with anti-rust colours to protect them from saline water and humidity, are being installed to ensure fishing boats off the Worli coast do not face hassles," the BMC said.
The BMC hailed this achievement as a significant milestone, marking the success of the first-of-its-kind experiment in India. "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 said.
