The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), which has been one of the most awaited projects of the financial capital, is likely to open for the public on December 25. The bridge will connect Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in just 20 minutes, which currently takes hours.
Taking to X, BJP leader Varun Soni posted: "Mumbai's iconic project 'MTHL', connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai set to open for public on 25th December."
However, no official confirmation from MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) has come yet.
Here's all you need to know about the project:
Connectivity
MTHL is a six-lane, 22-km Bridge, which is will be the “longest sea bridge in India”. It is expected to reduce travel distance between Sewri (Central Mumbai) and Chirle (Navi Mumbai) to 15-20 minutes, and is being built at a cost of over Rs 17,000 crore.
Notably, 16.5 km of the bridge length is over water and rest is on land. Construction has been awarded to two consortia, including Larsen and Toubro and Tata Projects.
Planning and Cost
The project is estimated to cost a total of Rs 17,843 crore. MMRDA was awarded contracts for the project in November 2017. The construction began in April 2018, and was scheduled to complete within 4.5 years. but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is currently expected to be completed by December 2023. The MMRDA estimates that 70,000 vehicles will use the bridge daily after it opens.
New tolling system
The toll collection will be done using an Open Road Tolling (ORT) system. The MMRDA has stated that tolls would be collected until 2045. The bridge is expected to cater to 70,000 vehicles daily.
Mumbai to Pune in 90 minutes soon
A major long-term benefit is reduction in travel time between Mumbai and Pune. It is expected to cut down travel time between Lonavla, Khandala and Mumbai by 90 minutes.
Environmental concerns
Several activists have voiced their concerns about the project because of flamingo roosting that happens at the site every winter, when the birds come to tropical climes to escape the cold.
"I had come to see the project because of the concerns. Now you can see there are flamingos on either side of the construction and also along the construction. I think both us and the birds have found a way to co-exist," former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told reporters.
MMRDA additional commissioner Sanjay Khandare has also then assured that sufficient care was being taken through interventions like sound barriers, mufflers and ecologically sensitive lighting.
Also Read | Navi Mumbai metro to start soon, boost property prices in micro-markets
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