Mumbai Residents have proposed another bridge to relieve traffic congestion in addition to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) plan to build a double-arm sea-link connecting Nariman Point with Colaba and Cuffe Parade. Rahul Narwekar, the speaker of the Maharashtra legislative assembly and the sitting MLA from Colaba, presided over a meeting with MMRDA commissioner SVR Srinivas, former local corporator Harshita Narwekar, and Colaba and Cuffe Parade residents' groups to decide on the best available traffic-reduction options. Aside from the new sea-link, residents have suggested that MMRDA construct an additional bridge that will connect Nariman Point to World Trade Road, also known as Sadhu Vaswani Road. “Having studied the options, citizens believe this additional bridge will disburse traffic. Since a lot of redevelopment projects will take place in Cuffe Parade, the traffic load is expected to increase in the coming years. So, as a long-term solution, citizens want one more bridge,” said Srinivas. Harshita Narwekar stated that the upcoming Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) projects were not taken into account by MMRDA when making traffic projections. “Taking into consideration that the connector will be there for another 100 years, we have opted for an additional bridge from Nariman Point to World Trade Centre Road,” she said. Parag Udani, a member of Colaba and Cuffe Parade residents’ association, added, “Going ahead, all the slums present in Ambedkar Nagar, Ganesh Murti Nagar will get redeveloped into SRA projects. So, vehicular traffic will shoot up. When you build something, you build it for a lifetime. If you have various arms and connectors, it makes it easier to diffuse traffic,” said Udani. Meanwhile, Rahul Narwekar stated that another meeting with chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will be held on September 18 to discuss the feasibility and cost factor of the additional bridge. MMRDA has already issued tenders for a four-lane bridge connecting Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade, which will serve as the last mile connectivity for the under-construction coastal road's southern end. The bridge's two arms will connect Nariman Point to Wodehouse Road and Captain Prakash Pethe Marg. Tenders have been issued for the project, with officials estimating a cost of Rs 3.15 billion. Srinivas stated that, much to the delight of residents, the connector road will include a walking track, a cycling track, and a viewing gallery from which citizens will have a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea. See also: MTHL project to provide a critical link between the two urban areasBMC denies request for redesign of Coastal Road-Sea Link interchange