Representative image of a toll booth
Credit: DH File Photo
Mumbai: Days before the inauguration of the iconic Mumbai Trans Harbour Link by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Maharashtra government on Thursday fixed Rs 250 toll charges for cars in India’s longest sea bridge.
This bridge will connect Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Raigad district and is expected to cut down the journey from the current over two hours to around 15-20 minutes.
The MTHL or the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Smruti Sewree Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, is a cable-stayed bridge - spanning nearly 21.8 kms - the length of the sea bridge is 16.5 kms and the length of approach viaducts would be 5.5 kms. The link would support a six lane (3x3) carriageway.
Two other similar bridges in the world are Hangzhou Bay Bridge in China (36 kms) and King Fahd Causeway, Saudi Arabia (26 kms).
The decision on the toll charges was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai.
Modi is expected to inaugurate the Atal Setu on 12 January.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has executed the project.
Meanwhile, social worker and RTI activist Anil Galgali said: “The toll of MTH: has been fixed at Rs 250. On one hand Rs 2,200 crore more is being given to the contractors and on the other hand the citizens have to bear the brunt of the toll. Due to the election, the toll fee is low which cannot be ruled out to increase after the election.”
The MTHL would boost development on the mainland Mumbai, satellite township of Navi Mumbai and Raigad. It would ensure speedy connectivity to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. Savings in fuel and vehicle operating costs to reach Navi Mumbai, Uran, Panvel, Alibaug, Pune, Konkan and Goa is another major benefit of the project. It would also decongest vehicular traffic in the island city.