Mumbai’s Coastal Road Milestone: First Bow Arch String Girder Installed

Mumbai, 27th April 2024: Mumbai celebrated a landmark achievement as the Mumbai Coastal Road was seamlessly linked to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, further enhancing the city’s connectivity. This feat was marked by the successful installation of the first bow arch string girder, marking a significant milestone for the BMC.

On Friday, April 26, the installation was completed, connecting the coastal road and the sea link via a massive girder utilizing tidal conditions in the open sea. This pioneering initiative in India saw the girder launch commence at 2 am and concluded by 3.25 am, overcoming the most challenging phase of the 10.58-km coastal road project – its convergence with the sea link.

Here’s a breakdown of the BMC’s meticulous strategy:

– The journey of the first bow arch string girder began from Mazagaon docks at 12.30 pm on April 24, reaching the sea link by 4 am on April 25. The setup process commenced at 2 am on April 26, with a keen eye on tidal conditions.
– Using a barge, the girder was carefully positioned at the midpoint between the coastal road and the sea link, with engineers ensuring stability amidst sea waves and wind speeds.
– Four mating units, two on the coastal road and two on the sea link, facilitated the precise installation of the girder’s white mating angles by 3.25 am.
– Weighing 2,000 MT and spanning 136 meters in length and 18 to 21 meters in width, the girder comprised prefabricated parts manufactured in Haryana’s Ambala, connected using advanced welding technology.
– Transported with the aid of 500 trailers to Mazagaon docks and assembled at Nhava port, the girder was then moved to Worli using a barge.
– Two mating cones and units each were installed on both the Worli side of the coastal road and the sea link, measuring 2 meters in diameter and 1.8 meters in diameter, respectively.

Looking ahead, jacks will be installed on all four corners, along with the mating cones and units. The girder will be settled using bearings, followed by the removal of the jacks. Concretization will be undertaken in the next phase of the project, spanning between the Worli end of the coastal road and the sea link, utilizing advanced C5 Japanese technology to prevent corrosion.