India's Longest Sea Bridge: Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in 20 Mins

_{India's longest sea bridge was inaugurated on Friday in Mumbai | Photo: PTI}

In a significant milestone for India's infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, a 21.8-km sea bridge connecting Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Raigad district. Popularly known as the Atal Setu, this sea bridge stands as the longest in India, promising to reduce travel time between the two points from an hour and a half to a mere 20 minutes.

Built at a cost of ₹17,840 crore, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) boasts six lanes, with 16.5 km of its stretch suspended over the sea. Named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Atal Setu is anticipated to enhance connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai while alleviating traffic congestion and promoting economic growth.

Beyond linking these two cities, the MTHL holds the potential to expedite travel to Mumbai International Airport and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Additionally, it aims to reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India, fostering improved connectivity between the Mumbai Port and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

Notably, the Atal Setu introduces an innovative open road tolling system, allowing vehicles to pass through toll booths at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour without stopping—the first of its kind in India. During construction in 2018, IIT Bombay collaborated to reinforce the bridge's structure, ensuring earthquake resistance for moderate seismic activity. Professor Deepankar Choudhury from IIT Bombay stated that the bridge can withstand earthquakes of up to 6.5 magnitudes.

Further demonstrating environmental consciousness, the lighting on the bridge was carefully selected to minimize disturbance to the aquatic environment. Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, emphasized the use of various cutting-edge technologies in the bridge's construction.

However, the toll charges for the bridge, set at ₹250 for a single journey and ₹375 for a return trip, have faced criticism from opposition parties as being excessively high. Officials defended these charges by pointing out potential fuel savings amounting to ₹500 per journey.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is set to open to commuters on Saturday, with a maximum speed limit of 100 kmph for four-wheelers. Notably, two-wheelers, auto rickshaws, tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles will not be permitted on the bridge.

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