Mumbai, May 16 (ANI): An eight-lane sea link with a twin carriageway and having a cable-stayed bridge design to be commissioned by January 2009 is poised to make for speedy road travel between Bandra and Worli suburbs of Mumbai.

Authorities here said that the 5.6-kilometer long Bandra-Worli sea link expected to be commissioned by January 2009 would ease traffic problems of western Mumbai.

Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Minister for Public Undertakings, said that the Bandra-Worli sea link will save travel time and alleviate traffic hurdles to a great extent.

"To cover a distance of seven kilometers from Bandra to Worli, it takes near about an hour and 15 minutes. But after the completion of this Bandra-Worli sea link, this distance of seven kilometers, which incorporates 23 signals, will be reduced to two signals to be covered in seven minutes at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. It will be a boon for the people of Mumbai when it opens in January 2009 and it will decongest traffic to a great extend," said Deshmukh.

Mahim causeway is currently the only link connecting the island city to the western suburbs at present and the seven km stretch has witnessed intense traffic congestion for many.

The high volume of traffic (140,000 vehicles per day) exceeds the capacity of Mahim causeway causing long traffic jams.

Once the 1,640 crore seal link project is commissioned, it will be an additional link from the western suburbs to the island city and will act as a high-speed alternative to the congested Mahim causeway.

This link aims at alleviation of traffic congestion in Mahim-Dadar-Worli areas besides providing relief at Mahim causeway.

The link supports eight traffic lanes including two lanes reserved for buses, cable stayed bridge of lengths of 500 meter on Bandra side and cable stayed bridge of 350-meter length on the Worli side. (ANI)