CM to launch MTHL’s 1st girder

The civil work of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) bridge, also popularly called as Sewri Nhava Sheva connector, which was envisaged four decades ago, only began in March 2018. Interestingly, after 22-months since the commencement, the first girder of the sea bridge will be launched by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. The girder will be 1,000 metric tonnes, while the lifting trolley capacity is 1400 metric tonnes.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority

(MMRDA) nodal agency for the project aims to finish 25 per cent of the bridge work by the end of 2020.

As per the project's set deadline, the civil work has been divided into three packages. The first package includes a 10.4 km bridge, the second package involves the construction of a 7.8 km bridge, while the third package includes building a 3.8-km viaduct. The fourth package involves toll collection, bridge maintenance, and traffic control system.

The 22-km long sea bridge estimated at the cost of Rs 17,843 crore will facilitate the decongestion of the island

city by improving connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai once ready for use. The bridge will begin at Sewri and end at Chirle Village near Nhava Sheva. It will be linked to Mumbai-Pune Expressway in the east and to the coastal road in the west. It will be a

six-lane (3+3) bridge having two emergency exit lanes. Interestingly, to recover the project cost, toll will be charged.

Apart from saving travel time and fuel, the MTHL sea bridge will accelerate the growth of the Navi Mumbai region.