Soil testing to be done before monsoon: MMRDA

Mumbai: Soil testing for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), which is a preliminary process undertaken before construction of a sea-bridge, will be conducted before the monsoon. Around 50-70 per cent of soil testing has been completed, revealed an official from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The authority has asked that the soil testing work be completed before the monsoon.

A MMRDA official said, “We have told them to finish soil testing work by June first week. No work will be undertaken during the monsoon.” The soil testing was started earlier this year by contractors; soil testing is essential to know if the soil can bear the construction of a bridge. “Once the land survey is done and the soil is assessed, contractors will be able to prepare designs for the bridge accordingly. Thus, during the four months of the monsoon, the designs will be finalised,” the official said. The construction of the bridge has been divided into three packages. The official further said, “Around 50-70 per cent of soil testing has been completed in all three packages.”

The consortium of L&T-IHI has been appointed to construct Package 1 (Sewri side of the sea-bridge); Daweoo-TPL (JV) has earned the nod to construct Package 2 (Navi Mumbai side of the sea-bridge) and L&T has received the go-ahead for constructing Package 3 (the bridge portion on land towards Chirle)