The inauguration of India's longest sea bridge, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, is scheduled for January 12

The inauguration of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India's longest sea bridge, is scheduled for January 12, according to an announcement by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Covering 21.8 kilometers, the bridge will transform connectivity between Sewri in Mumbai and Nhava Sheva in the Raigad district and will reduce travel time from two hours to 15-20 minutes.

The construction of the bridge began in 2018 and was initially set for a 4.5-year duration, experiencing an eight-month delay attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled for inauguration on December 25, the bridge missed its deadline. Significantly, the bridge has successfully undergone load-carrying capacity tests conducted in the past two weeks and is now prepared for the commencement of vehicular traffic.

The Chief Minister pointed out the bridge's transformative impact, foreseeing economic development and growth in areas linked by the bridge. The MTHL will also enhance the overall connectivity between key cities in Maharashtra. The bridge is designed to handle a daily traffic volume of 70,000 vehicles and it comes at a cost of Rs 17,843 crore, featuring a maximum speed limit of 100 kmph.

This infrastructure project, spanning approximately 22 kilometers, ranks as the world's 12th longest sea bridge. As a significant milestone in the nation's development, the 6-lane MTHL comprises a stretch of 16.50 kilometers over the sea and 5.50 kilometers on land.