Mumbai, Jan. 6 -- Work on the Bandra-Versova Sea Link (BVSL), which is part of phase 2 of the Mumbai Coastal Road, has reached its farthest point from the city's shoreline-900 metres into the Arabian Sea-between Bandra and Juhu, according to officials. Piling work on the sea link, officially named the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Sagari Setu, is currently underway. At the same time, construction of cable-stayed bridges for four connectors-Bandra, Carter Road, Juhu Koliwada and Versova-has begun, officials said. The 25-km BVSL will be a crucial point of intersection for the Nariman Point-Worli phase of the coastal road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the Versova-Kandivali-Bhayandar phase of the coastal road in the north. "This project remained stuck in discussions for a decade, but our double-engine government has achieved 26% physical progress with a firm May 2028 deadline," said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The new sea link is expected to have a 100-year lifespan. It will also lead to the removal of 1,585 mangroves, for which permissions have been obtained. "Unlike the Atal Setu, which was built over a creek, this is far more challenging as it is on the sea," said an engineer at the site. "The waves are extremely choppy, the soil is a mix of hard volcanic rock and clay, with the connectors passing over reefs. We are maintaining a depth of 15 to 30 metres, depending on the need for installing these pillars. Due to rapid climate change, the on-site conditions are a big challenge. At times, it takes two to three hours to ferry the materials, though it is 900 metres from the bay."...