Photos: Mumbai Trans Harbour Link - Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge, is stunning! Top unique facts about MTHL

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) or the Atal Setu is India’s longest sea bridge and it is indeed an engineering marvel! PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the MTHL or Atal Setu on January 12, 2024 in Mumbai. The new Atal Setu bridge is expected to bring big cheer to commuters as the MTHL will bring down the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes! We take a look at some must-know facts such as length, toll charges, project details and stunning images of India’s longest sea bridge and also elaborate on its special features that make it unique:

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, which is a Rs 18,000-crore project, commences from Sewri in Mumbai and concludes at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka in Raigad district. Atal Setu will significantly bring down travel time from over 2 hours to 20 minutes providing signal-free connectivity.

Atal Setu is a 6-lane sea link, with 16.50 kilometers over the sea and 5.5 km on land. The total length of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is 21.8 kilometres. The MTHL is a significant civil engineering project completed over seven years, according to Maharashtra CM office.

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link unique facts: The construction of MTHL involved a substantial quantity of steel, equivalent to the weight of 500 Boeing airplanes and 17 times that of the Eiffel Tower! The high-speed Atal Setu bridge aims to also provide better connectivity from Mumbai to the Pune Expressway and Goa Highway. MTHL will also connect to Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the JNPT port.

Unique tolling system: In a bid to streamline toll processes, MTHL adopts an open road tolling (ORT) system, eliminating boom barriers and the associated long queues at toll booths. This system, already operational in Singapore, allows vehicles to move seamlessly through toll points. Advanced scanners and cameras identify moving vehicles, facilitating electronic toll collection.

MTHL toll charges: Rates for the Sewri-Shivaji Nagar (Ulwe) route have been revised. Passenger vehicles will now pay Rs 200 for the Sewri-Shivaji Nagar stretch, and Rs 50 for the 2.5km Shivaji Nagar-Gavhan stretch. This adjustment corrects the earlier announcement of a flat Rs 250 toll for the entire distance. For round trips, the toll will be 1.5 times the one-way charge.

MTHL: The monthly pass rate is set at 50 times the one-way fare. For the Sewri-Gavhan route, the return trip for passenger cars is priced at Rs 375, with daily and monthly passes available at Rs 625 and Rs 12,500, respectively. On the Sewri-Shivaji Nagar route, the return trip for passenger cars is Rs 300, while daily and monthly passes are offered at Rs 500 and Rs 10,000.

MTHL speed limit: Authorities have announced the maximum speed limit for four-wheelers on the MTHL as 100 kmph. However, motorcycles, autorickshaws, and tractors are prohibited on the sea bridge. Officials have outlined the speed regulations, indicating a 100 kmph limit for vehicles such as cars, taxis, light motor vehicles, minibuses, and two-axle buses. The speed will be curtailed to 40 kmph at the ascent and descent of the bridge.

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link: The completion of the MTHL project has been achieved without causing any environmental disturbance. The number of flamingo birds visiting the Sewri coast has actually increased according to the Maharashtra government.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link incorporates a see-through crash barrier, set at a height of 1.55 meters, ensuring uninterrupted sea views from your car seats. Originally planning for a solid wall, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority reconsidered to avoid creating a tunnel effect along the entire MTHL.

MTHL features Orthotropic steel deck (OSD) spans ranging from 65 meters to 180 meters, a first for India, according to MMRDA. Another noteworthy element of MTHL is its robust lighting poles designed to withstand deep-sea weather challenges. Equipped with a Central Control & Monitoring System (CCMS), these poles are corrosion-resistant, galvanized to prevent rust, structurally designed to endure high wind velocities, and incorporate a Lightning Protection System to avert potential damage from lightning.

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link life span: Constructed with cutting-edge Japanese technology, the MTHL is designed to last for a century. The project is primarily funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

​The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project was divided into three civil works packages, with package 4 concentrating on the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), Automated Toll collection system, and electrical works.​