Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest bridge, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, in Maharashtra. The sea bridge, also the longest in the country, will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, reducing travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the event.
Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Atal Setu Bridge, a 21.8-kilometer-long and 6-lane bridge which will improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. The bridge, costing over Rs 17,840 crore, is a significant development in India. Modi also highlighted the importance of youth power in leading the country’s development and urged the youth to use local products and avoid drugs during the 27th National Youth Festival in Maharashtra’s Nashik.
Toll charges changed for the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link
The longest sea bridge in the nation, the Atal Setu, also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), was formally inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister set out to go from INS Shikara in Colaba to Navi Mumbai via the sea bridge.
However, It is noteworthy that the toll charges for passenger cars have been changed. The revised price is Rs 200 for the Sewri-Shivaji Nagar (Ulwe) length and Rs 50 for the 2.5km Shivaji Nagar-Gavhan segment. This revision departs from the earlier statement of a flat toll of Rs 250 for the whole distance; the toll for a return journey will be 1.5 times the one-way cost. The 21.8-kilometer sea bridge is currently open to commuters. It crosses National Highway 4B in Navi Mumbai and has interchanges at Shivaji Nagar, Jassi, and Chirle in Mumbai.
Bridge enables fast travel
The bridge cuts the existing two-hour travel time from Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in the Raigad district to about fifteen to twenty minutes. Open Road Tolling (ORT) is being used for the first time on a sea bridge in India with the MTHL, enabling cars to go through toll booths at up to 100 km without stopping. A tremendous technical effort, the MTHL contains a 6-lane sea connection with 16.50 kilometers built over the water and 5.50 kilometers on land.
However, The Mumbai Metro Rail Line (MTHL) is a significant transportation project that not only boosts Mumbai’s economy but also contributes to the region’s economic growth. The MTHL, costing around ₹18,000 crore, will create a new supply chain between Mumbai and the mainland, enabling the movement of raw materials, finished goods, and labor. The bridge, designed to connect with the Mumbai Pune Expressway, will allow motorists to travel at a maximum speed of 100 mph, with restrictions for different vehicle types.
The project, awarded in November 2017, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite 95% of the construction work being completed, the remaining tasks, including road laying, electrical work, and an intelligent transport system, will be finalized after the bridge’s connection to the mainland on January 12.
Atal Setu’s cutting edge features
The longest sea bridge in the nation, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), will open for public use from Saturday. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri—Nhava Sheva Atal Setu—is a sea bridge that will link Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai, cutting down on the two hours it now takes to get there.
By improving access to Navi Mumbai International Airport as well as Mumbai International Airport, the bridge would shorten the time it takes to get from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India. It would also strengthen the connection between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mumbai Port.
Along with orthotropic steel deck spans, a first for India, the bridge’s cutting-edge features include automated toll collection and sophisticated transport systems, which enable greater spans without the need for support pillars that might impede shipping lanes.