Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, (MTHL), now named 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu on Saturday.
The bridge, which is about 21.8 km long, is also the longest sea bridge in India.
How Mumbai Trans Harbour Link will improve connectivity
The six-lane bridge is about 16.5 km in length over sea and about 5.5 km on land.
It will provide faster connectivity to the Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India.
It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link cost
Modi had laid the foundation stone of the bridge in December 2016, and the original deadline for the completion of the construction was August 2023.
The Atal Setu has been built at a cost of about Rs 17,840 crore with the financial support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Atal Setu vs Eiffel Tower
According to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, the steel used for the construction of the bridge is 17 times that of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
"The steel used for the construction of this bridge is 17 times that of the Eiffel Tower. The structural steel used is four times that of the Howrah Bridge. The concrete used in the construction of this major sea link is also six times that of the Statue of Liberty (in the US)," Mukherjee said
Safety and traffic management at Atal Setu
He said that the longest sea bridge in the country has been built using the most advanced technology and has some of the best safety and traffic management features.
"This bridge is equipped with the latest technology and several new-age features, including orthotropic steel decks that help in giving huge spans. River circulation rings have also been used to minimise sound and vibrations to safeguard marine life. The lights used in this bridge also won't impede or disturb the aquatic environment around it," he said
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