Atal Setu Traffic Decline Linked to Government’s Toll Waiver Policy
Atal Setu Traffic Decline Linked to Government’s Toll Waiver Policy
Government toll policy impacts vehicle numbers on India’s longest sea bridge.
The Maharashtra government’s toll waiver policy has led to a notable reduction in traffic on Mumbai’s Atal Setu, officially called the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. The decision to eliminate the INR 45 toll at five Mumbai entry points, introduced ahead of state assembly elections, appears to have influenced traffic on the 21.8-kilometer sea bridge.
Traffic Trends
Data from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) shows a consistent decline in vehicle numbers on the bridge:
• September 2024: 7,14,213 vehicles
• October 2024: 7,07,104 vehicles
• November 2024: 6,67,803 vehicles
Similarly, daily toll-paying traffic has fallen from 23,807 in September to 22,809 in October and 22,260 in November. While the Diwali season in October and November partially explains this drop, MMRDA officials acknowledge the toll waiver’s role in reducing bridge usage.
Bridge Usage and Significance
Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, 2024, the Atal Setu has facilitated over 5 million vehicles from January to August. January, the opening month, saw peak traffic of 520,652 vehicles, averaging 27,403 vehicles daily. Despite the traffic decline, the bridge remains a critical route, reducing travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It competes with other toll roads, including Mulund-Airoli, Mulund-Thane, and Mankhurd-Vashi routes.
Constructed at a cost of INR 17,843 crore, the Atal Setu is integral to Mumbai’s infrastructure. However, the toll waiver policy, implemented just before the elections raises questions about its financial sustainability. With reduced toll revenue, the long-term impact on traffic management and maintenance funding remains uncertain.
The government’s decision has offered financial relief to commuters, particularly light vehicle owners, but further analysis is needed to understand how this policy will shape the bridge’s role in Mumbai’s traffic ecosystem.
