MUMBAI, India, July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
    - Mumbai Gets a new age Landmark
    - HCC Engineers set new Standards in Precision Engineering
    - India's First Open-Sea and Longest Cable-Stay Bridge

Ms.Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Member of Parliament, inaugurated the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on June 30, 2009. Bandra-Worli Sea Link, India's first and longest open sea cable-stay bridge is commissioned by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and built by the leading engineering and construction company, HCC (Hindustan Construction Company).

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The inauguration was also graced by the presence of Mr. Sharad Pawar, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Govt of India, Mr. Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Mr. Chhagan Bhujal, Dy. Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Dr. Vimaltai Mundada, Minister for Public Works (PU), Govt. of Maharashtra & Chairman, MSRDC, Mr. Satish Gavai, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, MSRDC and Mr. Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman & Managing Director, HCC.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link will connect Mumbai's Mahim intersection of the Western Express Highway and Swami Vivekananda Marg at the Bandra end to Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road at the Worli end. Motorists will now benefit from enhanced route options and easing of traffic congestion along the western corridor, especially at the Mahim, Dadar and Worli intersections.

Mr. Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman & Managing Director, HCC, said, "Construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link has been one of the most challenging infrastructure projects undertaken in recent times in India. Reflecting on the hard work of our engineers and over 3000 workers who have raised this Sea Link in rough open sea conditions, I am proud to say we have truly built a monument to human skills, enterprise and determination.

We took on this project with the quest to set new benchmarks in precision engineering and prove India's infrastructure development capabilities. We are confident that Bandra-Worli Sea Link will be a precedent for superior infrastructure development in India."

The highlight of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link are the two aesthetically designed cable-stayed bridges -- viz., the Bandra and Worli Cable-Stayed Bridges of 500 and 150 metre spans, respectively -- with the highest towers soaring to a height of 126 metres, equivalent to the height of a 43-storied building. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a pre-cast segmental box girder continuous bridge with twin carriage-ways of four lanes each. Immediately, one carriage-way will be opened to traffic with two-lane traffic in both directions.

The HCC team endured several challenges to put together the 2,342 pre-cast segments connected together in precise coordination with an accuracy of plus or minus5 mm while fighting the rough sea conditions. Construction of the cable-stay bridge was another daunting task, wherein the gradual slant of the 126 metre high towers were built with an accuracy of plus or minus1 mm for every three metres.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is equipped with state-of-the-art systems for traffic management and monitoring, emergency support and an automated toll system. A modern toll plaza with 16 lanes (with eight lanes operating initially) has been installed at the Bandra end. The toll plaza is designed as much to act as a control centre for traffic surveillance, as for monitoring the control systems for an intelligent bridge, which includes electronic tolling, counting and classifying variable traffic message signs as well as a remote weather information station. It also houses emergency telephones.

A team of engineers, workers and experts from HCC and its partners across the world, braved rough open sea conditions, building the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a true tribute to Mumbaikars.

About HCC:

HCC is a leading engineering, construction and infrastructure development company with a rich heritage of experience. The company specializes in large-scale infrastructure development deploying new age construction technologies. The Company has managed and executed several technically complex and high value projects across segments like transportation, hydro & nuclear power generation, marine, irrigation & water supply projects as well as integrated urban development and management.

(Please visit: http://www.hccindia.com)

SOURCE Hindustan Construction Company