NEW DELHI, Jan 12: Indian’s longest sea bridge, expected to be opened in November, will reduce the travelling time from Mumbai to new Mumbai and onwards to Raigad from the present thee hours to mere 15 minutes.
The Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde said the 22 km-long Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) linking connect upscale South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and Raigad would also be the first in the country to have an Open Road Tolling (ORT) system, a technology in use in countries like Singapore where a vehicle does not have to stop to pay a toll. Of its 22 km length, 16.5 km will traverse the sea.
“This bridge has international technology. This project will give a big boost to the economy,” Mr Shinde said. The Trans-Harbour Link will also be connected to the under-construction eight-lane coastal highway which begins from Marine Drive to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
“The MTHL will save a lot of fuel. By reducing travel time from hours to minutes, it will play a huge role in reducing air pollution,” the Chief Minister said. Mr Shinde added that his government was working with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to begin various developmental works in Mumbai. He alleged that there has not been any real work done in the city in the last few years.
“We are working with the BMC. Sewage treatment plants, pothole-free roads, hospitals, etc. will be our primary focus. Mumbai will change soon,” Mr Shinde said. “This is a project of superlatives. India’s longest sea bridge, the first project to use OSD technology, reverse circulation. Construction of the bridge took the ecosystem into account, which is why pelicans and flamingos are back despite heavy machinery functioning,” SVR Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary and Metropolitan Commissioner said.
(Manas Dasgupta)