Your Ultimate Guide To Atal Setu, India's Longest Sea Bridge

Scheduled for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, holds the distinction of being the longest sea bridge in India. Named in honor of the late BJP veteran and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the bridge spans an impressive length of 21.8 km, featuring six lanes. The construction of this monumental structure incurred a staggering cost of Rs 18,000 crore, as per reports from news agency PTI.

Linking Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka, Raigad district, the Atal Setu is poised to catalyze economic development in Navi Mumbai and its surrounding regions. Significantly reducing the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to a mere 20 minutes (from the previous 2 hours), the bridge is anticipated to address traffic congestion issues in the area.

Mumbai Police have set the maximum speed limit for four-wheelers on the bridge at 100 kmph, with restrictions prohibiting the passage of motorbikes, autorickshaws, and tractors.

The engineering marvel that is the Atal Setu involved the use of steel equivalent to the weight of 500 Boeing airplanes and 17 times that of the Eiffel Tower. The construction process utilized a whopping 177,903 metric tonnes of steel and 504,253 metric tonnes of cement.

Beyond its immediate impact, the bridge also contributes to shortening the distance between the Mumbai and Pune Expressway and serves as a vital link to the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport. Projections estimate a daily usage of 70,000 vehicles on the bridge, as reported by ANI.

Commencing its construction in 2016, the Atal Setu now proudly stands as the 12th longest sea bridge globally.