India’s longest sea bridge, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu in honor of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Mumbai police have laid down specific regulations for vehicles on the MTHL. Four-wheelers, including cars, taxis, light motor vehicles, minibuses, and two-axle buses, will have a maximum speed limit of 100 kmph. However, this speed will be restricted to 40 kmph during the ascent and descent of the bridge. The imposition of speed limits aims to mitigate potential dangers, obstructions, and inconveniences to the public, as stated by an official.
Notably, motorcycles, autorickshaws, tractors, and other similar vehicles will not be permitted on the sea bridge. Additionally, multi-axle heavy vehicles, trucks, and buses bound for Mumbai will be directed away from the Eastern Freeway. Instead, they will need to use the Mumbai Port-Sewri Exit (Exit 1C) and take the MBPT Road near ‘Gadi Adda’ for further movement.
Vehicles such as motorcycles, mopeds, three-wheelers, autos, tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles will have no entry on the MTHL.
The MTHL itself is a 6-lane sea link, spanning 16.50 kilometers over the sea and 5.5 kilometers on land. This ambitious infrastructure project, with a total cost of ₹18,000 crores, connects Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka, Raigad district. Once operational, the bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, enabling motorists to cover the distance in just 20 minutes, compared to the current 2-hour journey.