Atal Setu: Transforming Mumbai’s travel landscape with technological marvels

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), affectionately known as Atal Setu, has officially become India’s longest sea bridge, stretching an impressive 22 kilometers. Beyond its record-breaking length, Atal Setu boasts several distinctive features that position it as a groundbreaking engineering marvel, poised to revolutionize Mumbai’s transportation system.

Connectivity Boost:
-A 21.8-km six-lane bridge with 16.5 km over the sea and 5.5 km on land.
-Enhances travel to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai International Airports.
-Reduces Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India travel time

Environmental Sustainability:
-Features river circulation rings to reduce sound and vibrations.
-Recognized by the Bombay Natural History Society for environmental sustainability.

Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD):
Leveraging OSD technology expedites construction for longer spans, enhancing overall efficiency and durability.

Project Cost
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is a Rs. 18,000-crore project that starts in Sewri, Mumbai and ends at Nhava Sheva, in Uran taluka, Raigad district.

No Cable Stayed Bridge:
A thoughtful design choice ensures the safety of flamingos at the nearby Sewri mudflats, avoiding cable-stayed sections.

Technical Specifications

Carriageway Width:
Each carriageway is a spacious 14.92 meters wide, facilitating smooth traffic flow.

Pile Foundation Depth:
The impressive pile foundation depth reaches a maximum of 47 meters.

Spans and Materials:
Large amounts of steel are used in the construction; it weighs 17 times as much as the Eiffel Tower and 500 Boeing aircraft.

Innovations and Efficiencies

Open Road Tolling System:
A satellite-based tolling system prevents bottlenecks, streamlining toll collection.

Travel Time Reduction:
Significantly reducing travel time between South Mumbai and Pavel, Atal Setu saves about an hour per trip.

Toll Rates:
Atal Setu implements structured toll rates, catering to different types of commuters. Atal Setu implements a structured toll system with specific rates: Rs. 250 for one-way, Rs. 375 for round trips, Rs. 625 for a day pass, and Rs. 12,500 for a monthly pass, streamlining travel costs for regular and occasional commuters.

Safety and Capacity

Prestressing Wire:
An impressive 48,000 km of prestressing wire is used, circling the Earth’s diameter four times.

Speed Limit and Vehicle Restrictions:
Enforcing a speed limit and specific restrictions for different vehicle types ensures safety.

Commuter Capacity:
With six lanes, the MTHL accommodates 70,000 commuters daily at speeds up to 100 kmph.

Transforming Mumbai’s Travel Landscape

Beyond being a bridge, Atal Setu reshapes Mumbai’s travel pattern, enhancing competitiveness and symbolizing India’s progress in infrastructure development. Its key features set a new standard in urban infrastructure, blending technological innovation with environmental considerations.