Despite the steep toll, demand for monthly passes on bandra-worli sea link rises; mumbaikars say absence of two-wheelers makes journey enjoyable
Despite the steep toll, demand for monthly passes on bandra-worli sea link rises; mumbaikars say absence of two-wheelers makes journey enjoyable
on Monday, when the Bandra-Worli Sea Link toll became applicable, many vehicles used the Mahim Causeway, resulting in traffic jams on the stretch.
However, the Sea Link, despite the one-way toll of Rs 50, is a profitable option, according to transport analysts.
They say, riding on the engineering marvel that opened to the public on July 1 not only saves fuel, but also time. And Mumbaikars seem to agree.
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"Yesterday, there was a 15 per cent rise in the number of vehicles using the structure. During peak hours, around 3,000 vehicles used the bridge," added Mhaiskar.
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Avinash Singh is already a fan of the bridge. "I reached my office in Worli from Andheri in only seven minutes. I'm glad that two-wheelers and pedestrians are banned on the Sea Link," he said.
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However, not a single bus or truck took the sea link. Instead, they preferred to travel by the Mahim causeway that has 23 signals and several bottlenecks.
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Monday blues
Out of the 1.4 lakh vehicles that use the Mahim causeway every day, only 30,000 chose to pay for the Sea Link ride on Monday the first day the toll was applicable.
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"Only 20 per cent of those bought the two-way toll receipt that costs Rs 75," explained Mhaiskar. "On the last toll-free day, at least 2 lakh vehicles used the sea link," said an MSRDC official.
BWSL officials had estimated a turnout of 4,000 vehicles per hour on the bridge, but the actual figure has been around 1,250 since Monday.
Mhaiskar said he hoped more people would start using the sea link. At present, four lanes are open to traffic.
Accident
A minor accident took place on the BWSL yesterday.u00a0According to Rohidas Urse, senior PI, traffic police, "At
8.15 am, a car broke down midway and the car behind dashed into it. As it was a minor accident, none of the cars were fined."
150
The number of engineers from across the world who worked on the BWSLu00a0u00a0
2,850
The number of labourers who helped construct the BWSL
50 kmph
The speed limit for vehicles plying on the BWSL
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