Modi inaugurates Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge, in Maharashtra

The PM had laid the foundation of the bridge, built at a cost of £1.6 billion, in December 2016.

• Shubham
• 12 January, 2024

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By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (12) inaugurated the country’s longest sea bridge in the western state of Maharashtra in state capital Mumbai. The bridge — Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu — named after former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been built at a cost of Rs 17,840 crore (£1.6 billion).

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Modi in December 2016. The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link measures more than 21 kilometres in length that connects Sewri in Mumbai with Nhava Sheva in Raigad district adjoining the Arabian Sea.

In a post on X, Modi said, “Delighted to inaugurate Atal Setu, a significant step forward in enhancing the ‘Ease of Living’ for our citizens. This bridge promises to reduce travel time and boost connectivity, making daily commutes smoother.”

Delighted to inaugurate Atal Setu, a significant step forward in enhancing the ‘Ease of Living’ for our citizens. This bridge promises to reduce travel time and boost connectivity, making daily commutes smoother. pic.twitter.com/B77PSiGhMK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2024

The bridge will reduce the time to connect the two terminal points by around 15-20 minutes.

Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority confirmed that Modi will inaugurate the bridge on Friday and said several new technologies were used in making the infrastructural marvel. He added that lights used in the bridge do not pose any threat to the aquatic environment.

The Mumbai Police has imposed restrictions on speed limits for vehicles plying on the bridge to reduce “danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public”.

The prime minister had a busy schedule in Maharashtra on Friday. He was set to unveil projects worth Rs 30,500 crore (£2.8 billion) in the state ahead of the general elections due in a few months. Maharashtra sends the second-most number of lawmakers (48) to the lower chamber of the Indian parliament after Uttar Pradesh (80).