To save travel time by road, a creek bridge is set to be constructed between Madh and Versova. However, due to the need for approvals from the Environment and Forest Department and later the High Court for cutting mangroves, the project’s commencement has been delayed.
Now, the work on the bridge is expected to begin within the next two months. Currently, the 21–22 km journey between Madh and Versova via Malad takes about one and a half hours, which increases further during traffic congestion.
To ease this issue, there had been a long-standing demand to build a bridge over the creek. Once completed, the travel time will reduce drastically from 90 minutes to just 10 minutes.
Accordingly, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to undertake the construction of the bridge. In February 2023, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority granted approval for the project, followed by the CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) clearance. A contractor has also been appointed. The bridge is expected to be completed within three years, including the monsoon period.
The project requires the cutting of mangrove trees. However, the proposal for this clearance had not been sent earlier to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. It was finally submitted in July 2025, and approval is still awaited. After obtaining this approval, the High Court’s permission will also be needed before any mangroves can be removed. Only then can the preliminary work begin.
The estimated cost of the Madh–Versova bridge project is INR 3,900 crore. Once completed, the travel time between Madh and Versova will be reduced to just 10 minutes. However, fishermen have opposed the project, citing possible obstructions to boat routes and silt accumulation during construction.
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