PM Modi To Unveil India’s Longest Sea Bridge 'Atal Setu' On Jan 12

India's longest sea bridge, the Atal Setu or Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), is all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, January 12th. 

• The bridge is designed to accommodate around 70,000 vehicles daily, connecting Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai.

Some facts about Atal Setu:

• The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is a bridge that spans 21.8 km in length and will connect the cities of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Once inaugurated, it will become the longest sea bridge in the country and the 12th longest in the world.
• The bridge comprises a 16.5-kilometre sea link and a 5.5-kilometre land link. The sea link is a six-lane highway with three lanes on either side.
• The proposal to construct the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) was first introduced in the early 1960s, with plans to build it between Mumbai and Uran in Navi Mumbai. Unfortunately, the construction plans were never fulfilled due to a series of setbacks. However, in 2017, the Maharashtra government assigned the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to build the bridge.
• The project received an Official Development Assistance (ODA )loan of approximately Rs 18,750 crore from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which helped to move it forward. The estimated cost of constructing the bridge, according to the MMRDA, is around Rs 17,843 crore. 
• The sea bridge will allow motorists to travel at a maximum speed of 100 kmph, but heavy vehicles, motorcycles, autorickshaws and tractors will not be allowed to use it.
• The bridge has lighting poles designed to withstand high-velocity winds during monsoons. 
• It is also equipped with a lightning protection system to safeguard against potential damage caused by lightning.
• An 8.5-km noise barrier has been installed from Sewri, as this portion of the bridge passes through a flamingo-protected area and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
• Built 15 metres above sea level, the bridge required digging 47 metres into the sea bed.

Some other sea bridges of India

Bandra-Worli Sea Link -Mahim Bay

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link or Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link was the longest sea bridge in India and connected Bandra with Worli across the Mahim Bay, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. This cable-stayed bridge carries 8 lanes of traffic and has a total length of 5.6 kilometres.

Pamban Bridge

The Pamban Bridge, also known as the Indira Gandhi Bridge, connects Rameswaram on Pamban Island to the rest of mainland India across the Palk Strait. It is the second-longest sea bridge in India, with a total length of about 2.3 km.

Pamban Road Bridge 

The Pamban Road Bridge runs parallel to the Pamban Rail Bridge and carries 2 lanes of road traffic. This bridge was constructed by the Indians over a hundred years ago and is a marvel of engineering. It is the only surface transport link between the mainland and the island of India.

Vashi Bridge

The Vashi Bridge, also known as Thane Creek Bridge, is a vital link between Mumbai and the Indian mainland, spanning Thane Creek. It is one of the four entry points into Mumbai and was the first bridge connecting Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.

Airoli Bridge

The Airoli Bridge connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and is built across the Thane Creek. This 3.8 km long bridge establishes a direct road link connecting Thane - Belapur road and Eastern Express Highway. A few more sea bridges are proposed and planned to be constructed in the future