Officials expect the Bandra Fort connector to take 18 months to two years to build after the contractor is appointed. The MSRDC is targeting May 2028 for completion of the VBSL and hopes the new connector can be ready around the same time. (Facebook)A new connector linking the Versova-Bandra Sea Link (VBSL) to Bandra Fort has been approved by the Maharashtra government at an estimated cost of Rs 1,722.40 crore, taking the cost of the sea link and its associated connectors to Rs 19,843 crore. The additional access, officials say, is aimed at addressing one of the key problems the VBSL is expected to encounter after opening: getting traffic through Bandra’s narrow internal roads.The 3.55-km Bandra Fort connector, the second VBSL access point in Bandra, will come up near Bandra Fort, opposite the Taj Lands End Hotel. Tendering for the project is expected to begin in the next two to three months, said Rajesh Patil, vice-chairman and managing director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is executing the VBSL.Geotechnical surveys for the connector are currently underway.The connector will have two lanes in each direction. Its main carriageway will be 1.269 km long, while the remaining stretch will comprise a loop and three ramps. The construction component is estimated at Rs 1,183.79 crore, with the total cost rising to Rs 1,722.40 crore after accounting for GST and other components.The state government will fund Rs 1,183 crore of the construction cost through a budgetary allocation, while the balance will be borne by the MSRDC.The proposal is aimed at easing access to the sea link from Bandra, where internal roads are narrow and often congested. The MSRDC had submitted its proposal for the connector in 2024 after the demand for a direct Bandra Fort access had been raised earlier, including by BJP MLA Ashish Shelar in 2019.An MSRDC document points to the difficulty of reaching the sea link from parts of Bandra. “Currently, all roads leading to Pali Hill in Bandra (West) are (1+1) lanes,” it says, adding that it takes 20 to 30 minutes to cover the 2.6-km distance between the sea link toll plaza and Pali Hill.The Bandra Fort connector will be the fourth connector of the VBSL. The other planned links are at the Otters Club on Carter Road, Juhu Koliwada and Nana Nani Park in Versova. The 9.89-km sea link will connect at its southern end to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and at its northern end to the Coastal Road towards Dahisar.Story continues below this adOfficials expect the Bandra Fort connector to take 18 months to two years to build after the contractor is appointed. The MSRDC is targeting May 2028 for completion of the VBSL and hopes the new connector can be ready around the same time.The VBSL itself has already seen a substantial escalation in cost. The project was initially estimated at Rs 11,332 crore, but the cost rose to Rs 18,121 crore following changes to its interchanges and other components. With the Bandra Fort connector, the associated expenditure is now expected to reach Rs 19,843 crore.Sabah Virani is a journalist with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, covering infrastructure, housing and urban issues. In the realms of technical fields, she brings out human stories and the pace of change ongoing in the city. Expertise Specialised Role: Tracking infrastructure in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Sabah’s reporting tracks progress on various projects. From bridges to metros, she mixes technical details with resourceful information. Core coverage areas: Sabah keeps a close eye on the activities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its projects across the MMR, including the metros, road projects, bridges, the bullet train, pod taxi, its role as a planning authority, and more. She also watches for developments from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) and the GoM’s Urban Development department. Housing: Sabah also tracks developments in housing, particularly the workings of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). She also keeps a keen watch on the big redevelopment projects ongoing in Mumbai, including the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Motilal Nagar, Kamathipura, BDD Chawl redevelopment, among others. Occasionally, she reports on the environment, biodiversity, waste, arts and culture. Experience: Prior to working for the Indian Express, Sabah covered the municipality, civic issues and miscellaneous for Hindustan Times. Before that, she covered all things Mumbai for the online publication Citizen Matters. She has also worked as an editorial assistant at FiftyTwo.in. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Mumbai