The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, the longest sea bridge in India, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this Friday.
Named after the late BJP veteran and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the bridge spans 21.8 km, featuring six lanes, and has been built at a staggering cost of ₹18,000 crore, according to reports from news agency PTI.
Connecting Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka, Raigad district, the bridge is anticipated to stimulate economic development in Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas.
It significantly reduces the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai from 2 hours to just 20 minutes, addressing traffic congestion concerns in the region.
Mumbai Police has set a maximum speed limit of 100 kmph for four-wheelers on the bridge, while motorbikes, autorickshaws, and tractors are not allowed.
Additional notable details about Atal Setu include:
– A remarkable engineering feat, the bridge utilized steel equivalent to the weight of 500 Boeing airplanes, surpassing the Eiffel Tower’s weight 17 times.
– The construction involved 177,903 metric tonnes of steel and 504,253 metric tonnes of cement.
– The bridge also shortens the distance between the Mumbai and Pune Expressway and provides connectivity to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
– An estimated 70,000 vehicles are expected to use the bridge daily, as reported by ANI.
– Construction commenced in 2018, and it ranks as the 12th longest sea bridge globally.
