Mumbai Trans Harbour Link: Vehicles to Ply on India's Longest Sea Bridge By November

Mumbai: In good news for Mumbaikars, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project is set to see huge progress with the whole deck of the bridge likely to get ready by May 25-26. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will wrap up the work of laying of deck on the entire 16.5 km sea bridge stretch on MTHL in the coming week.

The entire bridge connecting the island city of Mumbai to Navi Mumbai is expected to open by December 2023. About 180 metre of the deck is yet to be launched. This six-lane bridge is among the most expensive project and is estimated to cost Rs 17,843 crore.

"The entire deck will laid by May 25-26, after which vehicles will be allowed to take the bridge," Metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas told the Times of India. Motorist will be able to drive on the bridge at a top speed of 100kmph.

However, commuters should note that the 22-km sea-link, despite getting end-to-end ready after a slab installation, will be opened from traffic operations only by November 2023.

It is imperative that the work is completed before the arrival of Monsoon because ferrying machinery and material when there is strong current in the water will be huge task, Srinivas said, adding that after launch of the entire deck, all energies will be utilised on water proofing, asphalting and construction of crash barriers.

Work to set up CCTV cameras, lamp post and toll infrastructure, will also continue here.

Recently, on May 9, the task of launching Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) - being used for the first time in India for the construction of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link- was completed by engineers. The OSDs are being used for spans up to 180 metres without any cable stays or suspensions. It will allow shops to sail under the bridge without being hindered.

Commuters will no longer have to queue up at toll plazas as this is also for the first time that India will see an open road tolling (ORT) system . One of the biggest benefits of ORT is that commuters are able to drive through toll plaza at highway speeds without having to slow down to pay the toll. This will also help avoid the traffic snarls caused due to it.

Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based cameras will be installed that will update the control room about any vehicle breakdown that will in turn be towed away via emergency lanes helping reduce congestion as vehicles will not remain abandoned on the carriageway for long.