Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Sealink


We finally did the touristy thing and went for a drive on the Banda-Worli Sealink this weekend. The bridge has been a part of my life for so many years - from evaluating financial models in the bidding stage, to living in a house that overlooked the bay where the link was to come up, to seeing the reclaimation activity at the Reclamation - it was almost like coming home.

The drive did not disappoint. Though there was sufficient traffic to deter the speeds that many people boast about, it was still a smooth ride. And with the windows down, and the high tide beneath, it was an experience of the kind the city offers very little of.

But the moment we hit Worli Seaface, the traffic-planner in me kicked in. Even a child could have said the alignment just would not work. The only purpose served by blocking off all possible U-turns is to ensure that cars stay on the road for five times the distance they intented to. Would not a simple clover-leaf junction have taken care of most of the congestion without compromising on aesthetics?

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the reason the bridge has the beautiful harp shaped structure only at the Bandra end, is because the planners intended that it be balanced by a similar structure reaching up to Nariman Point. Without that bridge, all that the Bandra-Worli Sealink would do is to shift the bottleneck from Mahim Causeway to Annie Besant Road. And I am sure, nobody wants that.
Posted by Picasa

5 comments:

dipali said...

I wish traffic planning seemed more sane to the ultimate user:(

Have you had the surgery?
I was away for a few days, no access to the Net.
I hope you are fine.
All good wishes to you and your family.

Natasha said...

Thanks, Dipali, for the wishes.
I was to have been operated on Friday, but found my thyroid levels were too skewed, so that first needs to be brought under control before they operate.
And till that happens, I am a walking time bomb- can start bleeding very badly anytime. Having the thyroid levels checked next Tuesday, and if all goes well should be operated on this time next week.
Thanks again,
Natasha

dipali said...

The walking time bomb bit is scary- for years I had nightmares about the DUB I had in 1983-84!
I hope the thyroid levels behave and all goes well. Take care.

Natasha said...

That would have been really scary. It is the uncertainty of not knowing when something is going to happen....

dipali said...

Absolutely!
I pray all goes smoothly for you.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails