MUMBAI - It was houseful on India’s first open sea bridge Wednesday - celebrities and commoners came out in droves to drive up and down the newly opened engineering marvel on the sea, leading to hour-long traffic snarls at both ends.

When the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) was thrown open at midnight Tuesday, there were very few vehicles, but by dawn the numbers increased, said an official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

It looked as though everyone was eager to grab the opportunity to travel free on the bridge till Sunday. The enthusiasm led to traffic snarls.

“In fact, it even exceeded our expectations and by 10 a.m., an estimated 10,000-plus vehicles had already traversed the bridge, and the numbers are only increasing as the weather is quite pleasant,” the official told IANS, apparently pleased with the public response.

A majority were youngsters and families out for a joy ride to soak in the beauty of the bridge. Not surprisingly, it took over an hour to reach the 5.6 km-long bridge.

In contrast, there was relatively free-flowing traffic on the Mahim Causeway, which till Tuesday was the only link between south Mumbai and the northwest suburbs, and where motorists used to spend 50-80 minutes to clear the eight-km stretch between Worli and Bandra.

Massive traffic snarls were witnessed since morning at the northern (Bandra) and southern (Worli) entry-exit points as motorists rushed to experience the drive above the sea.

“It’s a beautiful experience. Feels like driving to Goa or some foreign county, the sea on both sides, a cool breeze, making it a memorable drive,” gushed adman Prahlad Kakkar, who sat next to film star Naghma who was at the wheel, negotiating the heavy traffic on the BWSL.

Though the bridge is designed for a 100-kmph speed, initially only 50 kmph shall be permitted. However, on the opening day, the speeds were barely 20 kmph.

Dukool Pandya, a software professional residing in Vile Parle, went with his family at 9 a.m. but managed to reach Worli only at 11.30, perspiring profusely after the effort.

“Mumbaikars are floored by the on-sea driving experience. At this rate, the government may have to consider another sea link around Mumbai soon,” he observed.

Though Mumbaikars owning vehicles shall get to experience the joy of commuting on the BWSL, the commoners who travel by the BEST public buses may have to wait some more time to realise their dream ride.

The BEST has demanded that its buses be exempted from the proposed Rs.100 toll per trip on the bridge, but the state government has not yet responded, an official of the transport company said.

“We are awaiting the state government’s reply, until then we have decided not to ply BEST buses on the bridge,” a BEST spokesman said. He declined to reveal how many routes shall use the bridge.

The Rs.1,634-crore sea link, in construction for 10 years, was thrown open Tuesday by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Following a demand by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the bridge will be named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had announced.