Mumbai Trans-Harbour Sea Link Gears Up For Opening

By: Pune Pulse

October 12, 2023

Pune : In an endeavor to alleviate severe traffic congestion, the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), which is the longest road bridge in the country, will be integrated with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. 

As part of the recent developments of this project, the contract for the construction of this elevated corridor has been awarded to Gawar Construction. In March 2023, tenders were issued for the construction of this link, with an estimated budget of Rs 1,000 crores.

The proposed elevated corridor, which will connect the expressway to the MTHL, will have an interchange at Chirle, an upcoming residential area adjacent to Uran and Ulwe, situated on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai. This new corridor will provide commuters with a direct route from Worli in South Mumbai to Pune, bypassing traffic congestion and potentially saving over an hour in travel time.

Additionally, it is expected to reduce travel time between Lonavala, Khandala, and Mumbai by 90 minutes, thereby addressing the bottleneck issue in Navi Mumbai caused by narrow lane connectivity. The MTHL project, which starts from Messant Road at Sewri and connects with the Eastern Freeway, concludes at Shivaji Nagar in Navi Mumbai.

This project aims to offer commuters an uninterrupted and speedy 20-minute journey between these crucial locations, free from traffic signals. According to a report by Swarajya, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has recently invited global tenders from experienced firms for the operation and maintenance of this mega infrastructure project, marking a significant step towards the opening of the link.

In addition to its connection to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the MTHL promises to enhance connectivity to vital transportation arteries such as the Mumbai-Goa highway, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the JNPT port. The MTHL, also known as the Sewri Nhava Sheva Harbour Link, is a 22-km-long six-lane bridge, with 16.5 km of it being over the sea and approximately 5.5 km of viaduct on land on either side.

Madhupriya Dhanwate