Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) today, Friday, January 12, 2024. With a staggering cost of INR 21, 200 crores, the infamous ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ is India’s longest sea bridge. Not only this but the bridge ranks 12th among the longest bridges in the world.
- It has been designed to shorten the distance between Mumbai and Pune Expressway. Additionally, it will connect with areas such as the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- The initial point of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu is Sewri in Mumbai while its final point is Nhava Sheva in Uran Taluka in Raigad district. Hence, that will shorten the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 Minutes. Nevertheless, initially, it took minutes.
- MTHL is a six-lane sea link and has 16.50 kilometres of stretch on the sea and 5.50 kilometres on land. Along with it, the Maharashtra government has decided to charge INR 250 as a one-way toll for cars on MTHL.
- Besides, according to the government proposal, a passenger car will be charged INR 250. Meanwhile, there will be different charges for regular and frequent travellers.
- Along with this, the government-approved tolls are not permanently fixed. That means they will be revised after a year from the commencement of operations.
- During the construction, steel was roughly around the weight of 500 Boeing planes and 17 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower was used for construction.
- It is expected that more than 70,000 will cross the bridge.
- Besides a fixed toll, vehicle speed is also limited. The maximum speed limit for four-wheeler vehicles will have a speed limit of 100 km/hour. On the other hand, motorbikes, autorickshaws, and tractors are not allowed on the MTHL.
- Along with a speed limit of 100 km/hour, the vehicle’s speed will be restricted to 40 kilometres per hour on the ascent and descent of the bridge.
- Subsequently, according to the PTI, multi-axle heavy vehicles, trucks, and buses heading towards Mumbai will not be allowed on the Eastern Freeway.