Rajiv Gandhi setu (Bandra-Worli sea link) & Bandra Fort

Tajmahal Hotel at night

The Bandra–Worli Sea Link, officially called Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link Project has been one of the most highly recommended project of all the transport studies done for the metropolitan region. Previously, Mahim Causeway was the only link connecting the western suburbs with the island city of Mumbai. Therefore, this existing North – South traffic corridor was very congested and during the peak hours results in a bottleneck at Mahim Causeway.

 Bandra-Worli sea link
Rajiv Gandhi Setu

Construction of this link provides an additional fast moving outlet from the island city to the western suburbs & vice versa thereby providing much needed relief to the congested Mahim Causeway. This link also forms a part of the western freeway. The sea-link reduces travel time between Bandra and Worli during peak hours from 60–90 minutes to 20–30 minutes. The first four of the eight lanes of the bridge were opened to the public on 30th June 2009. All eight lanes were opened on 24th March 2010. The project was 5-year behind schedule.

View of Bandra-Worli sea link
View of Bandra-Worli sea link
Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link
Bandra Worli Sea Link

The bridge uses mobile explosive scanners for vehicles travelling on the sea link. Scans take less than 20 seconds for each vehicle with sensors above and below the vehicles. Over 180 cars can be scanned per hour by each scanner. The pillars and the towers supporting the bridge are protected by buoys designed to withstand explosions and collisions. These inflated buoys surround each pillar of the sea link to avoid any damage.

Two wheelers are not allowed on this bridge. Unknown of this rule, I entered this link from Worli side on my cycle and was already half way on it when security guards stopped me mid-way, but when I told them about my Kanyakumari to Leh expedition and that I did not know that two wheelers are not allowed, they let me go further only to be stopped at the toll booth in the end at Bandra side by policemen and toll official. After some conversation with them too, they let me go and I was saved from paying Rs.1200 fine as well.

Bandra Fort

Bandra Fort Mumbai
Bandra Fort or Castella de Aguada

Castella de Aguada (Fort of the Waterpoint), also known as the Bandra Fort, is a fort located in Bandra, Mumbai. “Castella” is a misspelling for Portuguese “Castelo” (castle). It is located at Land’s End in Bandra. It was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim.

Bandra Fort or Castella de Aguada
Bandra Fort

 

The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay that lay to the immediate south of Bandra to the English. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available in the form of a fountain (Aguada) for Portuguese ships cruising the coasts in the initial period of Portuguese presence. The fort lies over several levels, from sea level to an altitude of 24 metres. Castella de Aguada has been featured in several Hindi films, such as Dil Chahta Hai.