On January 12, 2024, Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest sea bridge in Mumbai, named The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) or Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sweri-Navaha Sheva Atal Setu Bridge. Since the bridge was inaugurated, it has put India at the center of the world due to its technological advancements. The Atal Setu Bridge is the 12th longest sea bridge in the world. This bridge was built in a record of five years, and now the bridge is open for transportation; it is revolutionising connectivity and transportation in the country. In this blog, we will confabulate Atal Setu Bridge in detail. Do not skip in the middle if you want to know everything about this 12th-longest sea bridge in the world.
An Overview Of Atal Setu Bridge In Mumbai
The MTHL project was first proposed in the early 1960s and was to be built in Navi Mumbai between Mumbai and Uran. However, plenty of obstacles couldn’t fulfil the project back then. In 2017, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was given the bridge’s responsibility by the Maharashtra government itself. To facilitate the project, The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) offered officials a development loan of ₹ 18,000 crore.
With a record time of five years, Atal Setu Bridge was finally built to enhance citizens’ ‘ease of mobility’ by strengthening urban transport infrastructure and connectivity. The bridge starts from Sewri in Mumbai and ends at Nhava Sheva in Uran Taluka in Raigad district. It has shortened the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes, which used to take 2 hours earlier.
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Attributes of Atal Setu Bridge
Atal Setu height is 38 metres or 98 feet tall, making it one of India’s longest sea bridges. The bridge will offer faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport. Let’s talk about the features of Atal Setu bridge below:
Dimension: The bridge is 21.8 km long and has 16.5 km of length over the sea and about 5.5 km on the land.
Potential: It is said that the bridge can ferry almost 70,000 vehicles daily and have a life of 100 years.
Swift Connectivity: It will offer faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Advanced Technology Integrated: The bridge has all-weather technology integrated, which has specially designed lighting poles to withstand high-velocity winds during monsoons. It is also equipped with a Lightning Protection System to prevent against potential damage caused by lightning.
Environmental Sustainability: The bridge is built with an 8.5km noise barrier, which is installed since the portion of the bridge passes via a Flamingo-protected area and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Reduces Travel Time: The bridge is said to reduce commute time from 2 hours to 20 minutes. It will tremendously reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India.
Toll: The Maharashtra government has proposed charging ₹ 250 as a one-way for cars on the setu. The return toll comes to ₹ 370, which will be 1.5 times higher than the original toll. With this amount, it is said to be the most expensive toll road connecting Mumbai.
What Areas Does The Sea Bridge Connect?
Commencing from South Mumbai’s Sweri, the Sea bridge will cross through Thane Creek and finish off at Chirle Village near Nhava Sheva. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Mumbai-Goa Highway, and the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport are just a few of the significant locations that the bridge links. Sweri, Shivaji-Nagar, Chirle, and other strategic locations will also have interchanges on the bridge to guarantee effective connections and a seamless traffic flow.
Interesting Facts About Atal Setu Bridge You Must Know
- PM Modi laid the foundation of the bridge in 2016.
- PM Modi inaugurated the Atal Setu Bridge on January 22, 2024.
- Atal Setu is India’s largest sea bridge, which was built to improve the connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
- The weight of Setu is equivalent to the weight of 500 Boeing aeroplanes and 17 times that of the Eiffel Tower’s weight.
- Almost 70,000 vehicles are supposed to use the bridge every day.
- Atal Setu is the 12th longest sea bridge in the world.
Our Take On Atal Setu Bridge
With the inauguration of Atal Setu Bridge in Mumbai, it can be said that the bridge will definitely facilitate the lives of millions of people who travel from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai or vice-versa. Officials have also announced that motorbikes, tractors, and auto rickshaws are not allowed to use Atal Setu Bridge. This excursion aims to protect the sea bridge’s safety and guard against any mishap or interruption. We hope that the Atal Setu Bridge will surely smooth the lives of daily commuters.
