Atal Setu: No bikes, autos allowed on India's longest sea bridge

Bikes, autos and tractors will not be allowed to ply on India's longest sea bridge Atul Setu which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the Mumbai Police said. The 6-lane sea link -- named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) -- will enable motorists to ply between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in just 20 minutes which otherwise takes 2 hours.

This marvel bridges Mumbai's island to the mainland, resolving land scarcity issues imposed by geographical constraints. Not only does it provide quicker access to the developing Navi Mumbai International Airport, JNPT Port, and expressways like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa Highway, but also unlocks new opportunities for employment, tourism, and economic growth.

There are, however, certain restrictions. According to a Mumbai Police official, vehicles like cars, taxis, light motor vehicles, minibuses, and two-axle buses will have a speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour and the speed will be restricted to 40 kmph on the ascent and descent of the bridge.

He told news agency PTI that multi-axle heavy vehicles, trucks, and buses heading towards Mumbai won't have an entry on the Eastern Freeway. "These vehicles will have to use the Mumbai Port-Sewri Exit (Exit 1C) and take the MBPT Road near 'Gadi Adda' for further movement," he said, adding that the restrictions were imposed to curb "danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public".