On January 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL), a significant development in India’s infrastructure. In addition to reducing the journey time from two hours to 15-20 minutes, the bridge between Sewri in Mumbai and Nhava Sheva in Raigad district is referred to as Atal Setu as a tribute to the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
India’s longest sea bridge: everything you need to know:
-
By connecting Sewri in Mumbai with Nhava Sheva in Raigad district, the journey will be reduced from two hours to approximately 15-20 minutes.
-
MTHL is the first sea bridge in India with an Open Road Tolling (ORT) system that allows vehicles to pass through toll booths without stopping.
-
MTHL features a six-lane sea link, with 16.50 kilometres over the sea and 5.50 kilometres on land, making it an engineering marvel.
-
MTHL is not only a transportation project, but also an engine of economic growth, facilitating the movement of raw materials, finished goods, and workers between Mumbai and the mainland.
-
With a cost of approximately Rs. 18,000 crore, the MTHL is expected to accommodate about 70,000 vehicles upon completion, thereby addressing the growing traffic congestion in the region.
-
There will be a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h on the MTHL, with specific restrictions for various vehicle types. Heavy vehicles, motorcycles, autorickshaws, and tractors are not permitted on the sea bridge.
-
It is strategically designed to connect with the arterial Mumbai Pune Expressway, further enhancing connectivity between the two largest cities of the state.
-
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) awarded contracts for the project in November 2017. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction by around eight months.
-
The construction work has already been completed to the extent of 95%, while the remaining tasks, such as the laying of the roads, the wiring, and the implementation of an intelligent transport system, will be completed after the bridge is connected to the mainland on January 12.
-
MTHL was envisioned around 30 years ago with the objective of speeding up travel between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Additionally, it provides smoother transportation between Mumbai and Pune, as well as between Mumbai and Goa.
