The state cabinet is set to give the Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link the go-ahead next week, days after the opening of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the contract for the next arm of the Western Freeway Project is likely to be awarded to the Reliance Infrastructure Ltd-led consortium.

“The recommendation from our end has been sent for awarding the contract to the REL-led consortium, but the cabinet’s nod is required. The decision is likely to be announced next week,” PWD Minister Vimal Mundada said.

The REL-led consortium has quoted a lower viability gap fund for the 3.6-km project than the other consortium in the fray, Hindustan Construction Company-Samsung.

The fate of the proposed flyover from Peddar Road to Wilson College near Girgaum Chowpatty is still unclear. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is reworking the designs after it failed to get a nod from the environment department. The Peddar Road Flyover is seen as part of a crucial dispersal system for traffic between South Mumbai, BWSL and the Worli-Haji Ali sea link.

Last September, the MSRDC had written to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) appealing for approval saying it was could not redesign the section that intrudes onto the beach.

Now the MSRDC is working on redesigning the portion where the proposed viaduct construction juts seven metres into the beach, pegging two pillars on Chowpatty. “We’re revising the designs on the Chowpatty section now restricting up to the right of way,” said Satish Gavai, vice chairman and managing director, MSRDC.

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