MTHL Welcomes Over 8.13 Lakh Vehicles In Just One Month Of Service, Generates Rs 13.95 Crore In Revenues

Mumbaikars are lapping up the Atal Setu, popularly known as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) sea link commissioned on 12 January this year.

As per data provided by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which developed the project, a total of  8.13 lakh vehicles used the sea bridge in the past month, generating a revenue of Rs 13.95 crore through toll.

Out of the total vehicle count, the cars were the highest at 7.97 lakh, contributing to 98 per cent of overall traffic. Limited presence of commercial vehicles is largely due to low awareness about the new connectivity.

MTHL, India’s longest sea bridge was unveiled on 12 January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opened for public commute the next day.

However, the average daily ridership is currently at 27,100, which is below the 40,000-mark projected in the opening year 2024. According to MMRDA commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, the launch of the under-construction Sewri-Worli connector will increase the daily vehicle count.

The 21.8-km-long sea link connects Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai, reducing the travel time between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes from the present two hours. The bridge, of which 16.11 km has been built on water, and about 5.5 km viaduct is on land on either side, will have six lanes, each 3.5 m wide.

This sea link project commences from Messant Road at Sewri, where it connects with the Eastern Freeway and ends on the mainland at Shivaji Nagar in Navi Mumbai, providing commuters with a seamless and swift 20-minute journey between these two key locations, free from traffic signals.

A speed limit of 100 kmph has been set for the MTHL, while the speed limit on the ramps leading to the sea bridge is 40 kmph.