Madh-Versova bridge stalled over pending forest and HC clearances

Nearly a year after the BMC secured Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change for the cable-stayed bridge connecting Madh and Versova island in the western suburbs, crucial approvals remain pending.

- Shefali Parab-Pandit

The civic body is still awaiting key permissions from the forest department and the high court, as the project will affect mangroves in the region. Once completed, the bridge will reduce travel time, cutting the commute from 1.5 hours to just 20 minutes.

First proposed in 2015, the bridge project received blueprint approval after five years of planning. Designed as a part cable-stayed structure, the bridge will span 2.6 kilometers across Versova Creek, with a width of 27.5 meters.