In a significant development for Mumbai’s infrastructure, the Madh–Versova bridge project has received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The 2.06-km cable-stayed bridge will connect the Madh and Versova jetties—currently linked only by a ferry service that halts during the monsoon—reducing the commute time from 90 minutes to a few minutes.
The project now awaits approval from the Bombay High Court to divert 2.7515 hectares of mangrove forest. As compensation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has earmarked three hectares of land for afforestation, with plans to plant three trees for every one felled during construction.
Once the High Court grants clearance—expected within two to three months—the BMC aims to begin ground-level construction by October 2025. Land acquisition will follow the court’s nod.
To minimise environmental impact, the bridge will feature a cable-stayed design that requires fewer support pillars in the mangrove zone. It will also connect to the Versova interchange on the northern end of the Coastal Road, improving city-wide connectivity.
The Madh–Versova bridge has been proposed since the 1967 Development Plan. This recent push came after MP Piyush Goyal met with Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik earlier this week, urging the state to expedite the project and seek MoEFCC clearance.
News source: Hindustan Times
