Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), named Atal Setu, on Friday, January 12, 2024. This marks the inauguration of the country's longest sea bridge ever constructed.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde highlighted the MTHL's role as a catalyst for development in Navi Mumbai and adjacent areas. The 22-km long link connects South Mumbai to the new Navi Mumbai airport and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, promising improved connectivity and reduced travel time.
Vehicles traversing the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link will be subject to speed limits. Four-wheelers, including cars, taxis, light motor vehicles, minibuses, and two-axle buses, will have a maximum speed of 100 kmph. During the bridge's ascent and descent, the prescribed speed limit drops to 40 kmph, prioritizing safety.
Motorbikes, autorickshaws, and tractors will not be permitted on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, as announced by authorities. This exclusion aims to ensure safety and prevent potential disruptions on the sea bridge.
Mumbai Police implement speed restrictions on the MTHL, citing concerns about potential dangers, obstructions, and inconvenience to the public. The decision is part of efforts to maintain safety standards on the newly inaugurated bridge.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, an Rs 18,000-crore project, commences from Sewri in Mumbai and concludes at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka in Raigad district. Spanning 16.50 kilometres on the sea and 5.5 km on land, the 6-lane sea link significantly reduces travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai from 2 hours to just 20 minutes.
Heavy multi-axle vehicles, trucks, and buses bound for Mumbai will not be permitted entry on the Eastern Freeway. Instead, they are directed to use the Mumbai Port-Sewri Exit (Exit 1C) and follow the MBPT Road near 'Gadi Adda' for further movement.
To utilize the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the commuters will have to pay a toll fee of Rs 250 for a one-way trip and Rs 375 for a round trip, making it the most expensive toll road connected to Mumbai. The state government plans to review the toll after one year, providing a pricing structure comparison with the Bandra-Worli sea link.