Soon Travel Directly from Mahabaleshwar to Konkan: New Cable-Stayed Bridge to Connect Satara and Ratnagiri
Mahableshwar, 18th May 2025: In a major boost to connectivity between Western Maharashtra and the Konkan region, a new cable-stayed bridge is under construction that will directly link Mahabaleshwar and Ratnagiri. The ambitious project will connect Tapola in Satara district to Gadhavali Ahir in Ratnagiri, reducing the distance between Mahabaleshwar and the Konkan by approximately 50 kilometres.
The bridge will traverse the remote Koyna valley and offer a scenic route via Raghuveer Ghat in Khed taluka. Once completed, travellers from Ratnagiri will no longer have to take the longer Ambenali Ghat route via Poladpur to reach Mahabaleshwar. Instead, they can reach Tapola via the new bridge and continue to Satara via the Kas Plateau, significantly cutting down travel time.
Inspired by Mumbai’s iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link, this will be the first cable-stayed bridge of its kind in Western Maharashtra. The bridge will be 540 meters long and 14 meters wide, featuring a 43-meter-high viewing gallery at its central span. This gallery is expected to be a tourist attraction in itself, offering panoramic views of the Koyna backwaters and sunrise and sunset vistas across the Sahyadri hills.
In addition to the main bridge, another bridge is being constructed on the Bamnoli–Aapti stretch, further improving road connectivity in the region. This development is expected to reduce the Tapola to Satara distance by 10 to 15 kilometres, benefiting both local residents and tourists.
The dual-bridge infrastructure is poised to transform travel in the region, promote tourism, and boost economic activity by offering a shorter, more scenic, and safer alternative route between the Konkan coast and Western Maharashtra.
