RAJIV GANDHI SEA LINK: A

MARVEL OF ENGINEERING
Rajkumar Meena
Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link

• Introduction
• Need of the project
CONTENT
• Features and Specifications
• Construction Sequence
• Geology of the Bandra Worli sea link
• Design
• Foundation
• Pylon Tower
• Structure
• Bridge Management
• Project Benefits
• Challenges Encountered
• Conclusion

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INTRODUCTION
The Bandra- Worli Sea Link, officially known as the Rajiv
Gandhi Sea Link, is a remarkable engineering marvel that
connects the western suburbs of Mumbai with the central business
district of the city.
The sea link significantly reduces travel time between Bandra and
Worli during peak hours, from 20-30 minutes to just 10 minutes.

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Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link

NEED OF THE PROJECT

• Bandra Worli Sea Link Project is one of the most highly recommended projects of all the
transport studies done for the metropolitan region during the last forty years.
• At present, Mahim causeway is the only link connecting western suburbs to island city of
Mumbai.
• The existing north-southwestern corridor is highly trafficulated and congested during the peak
hours results in a bottleneck on the Mahim cause way indirectly raising the noise and pollution
level of the city

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F E AT U R E S A N D S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

Features Description
Length 5.6 Kilometres
Location Mumbai, India
Type Cable-stayed bridge
Construction Cost ₹6.6 billion
Constructed By Hindustan Construction Company
Inaugurated 2010

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

1. Construction of pier foundation 7. Construction of approach span

2. Pylon tower construction below the deck profile 8. Final setup of the deck by wet joint
3. Pylon tower construction above the deck profile construction

4. Pier table and diaphragm construction 9. Grouting the cables for lock-in position
10. Fine-tuning and adjustments
5. Construction of deck by precast concrete
6. Launching and stressing of cables

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GEOLOGY OF THE BANDRA-

WORLI BRIDGE SITE

• The Bandra- Worli bridge project is located in the Deccan trap province within India's central-west coastal region
• Mumbai and surrounding areas had a series of volcanic eruptions that resulted in lava formation around the
project area.
• The basalt rocks were found in the thickness range of 5 m to 30 m.
• The strength of these rocks ranged from extremely weak to extremely strong at conditions ranging from highly
weathered and fractured to fresh, massive, and intact.
• Water depth ranges from 3 m to 6 m below mean sea level.

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DESIGN

• BWSL was designed as the first cable-stayed bridge to be constructed in open seas in India. Due
to the underlying geology, the pylons have a complex geometry and the main span over the
Bandra channel is one of the longest spans of concrete deck attempted. Balancing these
engineering complexities with the aesthetics of the bridge presented significant challenges for the
project.
• The Bandra– Worli Sea Link was the first infrastructure project in Mumbai to use seismic
arresters. These will enable it to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 7.0 on the Richter scale.

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F O U N D AT I O N

• The foundations for the BWSL's cable-stayed bridges consist of 120 reinforced concrete piles of
2,000 millimetres (6.6 ft) diameter. Those for the viaducts consist of 484 piles of 1,500
millimetres (4.9 ft). These 604 piles were driven between 6m and 34m into the substrate in
geotechnical conditions that varied from highly weathered volcanic material to massive high
strength rocks.

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PYLON TOWER Pylon tower

• The largest pylons for the bridge consist of diamond shaped 128 metres (420 ft) high concrete
tower featuring flaring lower legs, converging upper legs, a unified tower head housing the stays
and a continuously varying cross section along the height of tower.

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STRUCTURE

• BWSL consists of twin continuous concrete box girder bridge sections for traffic in each direction.
• Each bridge section, except at the cable-stayed portion, is supported on piers typically spaced 50
metres (160 ft) apart.
• Each section is designed to support four lanes of traffic with break-down lanes and concrete barriers.
• Sections also provide for service side-walks on one side.

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BRIDGE MANAGEMENT

1. Power supply & lighting:- The bridge has a reliable and redundant power supply, backed up by
diesel generators and auto mains failure panels for critical loads, such as monitoring,
surveillance, emergency equipment and communication services including aviation and
obstruction indicators. BWSL exclusively uses energy saving illumination systems.
2. Surveillance and Security:-An intelligent bridge management system (IBS) provides traffic
information, surveillance, monitoring and control systems.

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PROJECT BENEFITS

• Estimated savings in Vehicle Operating Costs (VOC): Rs. 100 Crores per annum.
• Considerable savings in travel time (20 to 30 minutes) due to increased speed and reduced delays (23 signals avoided).
• Reduced accidents.
• Reduction in traffic on existing roads because of traffic diversion to the Sea Link.
• Reduction in Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxide Levels in Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli along existing roads.
• Reduced noise pollution in Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli along existing roads.
• No adverse effect on fisheries, marine life and livelihood of fisherman.

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CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

• Need for Ground Stabilisation of Pre-Cast Yard due to poor bearing capacity.
• The maritime Board does not allow marine traffic in monsoon season.
• Highly uneven and variable foundation bed even for plan area of one pile.
• Delay due to change in design of stray cable.

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CONCLUSION

• With technology from across the world, engineers from seven countries and workers from across
India, the Bandra Worli Sea Link rises above the Arabian Sea. The new Bandra-Worli Sea Link is
a symbol of the great advances of the economy and engineering capabilities of the Indian
subcontinent not only because it is the sort of structure that could grace the skyline of anymajor
city, but due to the involvement of developing local manufacturing which can compete with the
workl'sbest in the supply of complex structural components, another thread in the tapestry of the
region's remarkable ongoing development as a powerhouse of the world economy.

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THANK YOU

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