Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India’s longest bridge, in Maharashtra on Friday.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.
Atal Setu is also the longest sea bridge in the country.
It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India.
The foundation stone of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.
Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.
It is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land.
It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the bridge symbolizes a developed India and offers a glimpse into the nation’s future.
Speaking at a public event in Navi Mumbai, he described Atal Setu as a representation of the facilities, prosperity, speed, and progress that will characterize a developed India.
“Atal Setu is the picture of developed India. This is a glimpse of what a developed India is going to be like. In a developed India, there will be facilities for all, prosperity for all, there will be speed and progress. In developed India, distances will be reduced and every corner of the country will be connected. Be it life or livelihood, everything will go on continuously, without interruption. This is the message of Atal Setu,” he said.
Highlighting that several mega projects are being executed at a rapid pace in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Mumbai is set to get its first Bullet train, along with many other projects being lined up for the state that will boost economic development.
“Several mega projects have been completed in Maharashtra and Mumbai. Several will be completed soon. Last year, Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg was inaugurated. Work is going on at a fast pace on the Navi Mumbai airport project. In the coming years, Mumbai will get its first bullet train,” PM said.
PM Modi also stated that his government’s intention is clean and further took a dig at Congress stating that those who ruled the nation for the longest time had the only intention to fill their coffers and gain power.
“Our government’s intention is clean. For those who ruled the nation for a long time, their intentions and loyalty have always been in question. Their intention was to gain power only. They were only dedicated to the development of their families and this is why they were never able to think about Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi said.
Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.
It is about a 21.8 km long 6-lane bridge having about 16.5 km length over the sea and about 5.5 km on the land.
It is the longest bridge in India and also the longest sea bridge in India.
It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Prime Minister’s Office said.
PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 12,700 crore and flagged off the inaugural run of the EMU train from Uran railway station to Kharkopar.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police has informed that the speed limit for four-wheeled vehicles such as cars, taxis, light motor vehicles, minibuses and two-axle buses on the sea bridge will be 100 kmph and 40 kmph for going up and down the bridge. However, motor bikes, auto rickshaws and tractors will not be allowed on this bridge.
For travelling by Atal Setu then you have to pay a toll of Rs 250 for one side journey. The charge is Rs 375 for a round trip. The government has said that the toll will be reviewed after one year. As of now, the Bandra-Worli sea link is tolled at Rs 85 and round trip at Rs 127. For its Construction 177,903 metric tons of steel and 504,253 metric tons of cement were used.
A Glimpse of things to come
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) is 21.8 km road bridge connecting the Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. The bridge begins in Sewri, South Mumbai and cross Thane Creek north of Elephant Island and will terminate at Chirle village, near Nhava Sheva
Benefits
• Faster connectivity to Navi Mumbai Intl Airport, JNPT Port, Mumbai – Pune Expressway and Mumbai – Goa NH
•Rs 250 for one side journey. The charge is Rs 375 for a round trip.
Key components
• Total length is 21.8 km; length on sea is 16.50 km and on land portion is 5.5 km.
•The sea link will contain a 6-lane (3+3 lane) highway+
