70 Facts About Atal Setu

70 facts about Atal Setu, covering its design, construction, significance, and trivia. These include facts about the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), officially named Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri–Nhava Sheva Atal Setu:

🏗️ Basic Information (1–10)

1. Atal Setu is officially known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
2. It is also called the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri–Nhava Sheva Atal Setu.
3. The bridge is named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
4. It connects Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai.
5. Atal Setu is the longest sea bridge in India.
6. The total length of the bridge is 21.8 kilometers.
7. Out of this, 16.5 km is over the sea, and 5.5 km is on land.
8. The bridge is a 6-lane freeway, three lanes on each side.
9. It is a part of the Eastern Freeway extension.
10. The bridge allows a speed limit of 100 km/h.

🌉 Engineering and Design (11–25)

11. The bridge is designed for vehicular traffic only (no two-wheelers or pedestrians).
12. It has an Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) for long spans.
13. The maximum height of the bridge above sea level is 15 meters.
14. It features a cable-stayed structure at navigational spans.
15. The project includes earthquake-resistant technology.
16. Over 70,000 metric tonnes of steel were used.
17. It has over 130 piers supporting the sea portion.
18. Special equipment called marine piling rigs were used for foundation work.
19. The bridge is built to withstand cyclonic wind speeds.
20. It features LED street lighting throughout.
21. The OSD spans were built in Japan and South Korea.
22. It includes intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS).
23. The bridge is equipped with surveillance cameras and sensors.
24. The design life of Atal Setu is 100+ years.
25. It has emergency SOS systems and breakdown lay-bys.

🛠️ Construction Timeline & Cost (26–40)

26. The idea of MTHL was first proposed in 1960s.
27. The project gained momentum in the 2000s.
28. The foundation stone was laid in December 2016.
29. Construction began in 2018.
30. The bridge was inaugurated on January 12, 2024.
31. The total cost of the project is around ₹17,843 crore (USD 2.1 billion).
32. The project was implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
33. It was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
34. The project was divided into four packages, handled by different contractors.
35. Over 10,000 workers and 2,000 engineers were involved.
36. The bridge construction faced delays due to COVID-19 and legal clearances.
37. Environmental and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) permissions were critical.
38. It was completed 5 months ahead of schedule.
39. Atal Setu used precast segments to speed up construction.
40. The construction involved cutting-edge marine engineering techniques.

🚗 Traffic and Connectivity (41–55)

41. The bridge connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in just 20-25 minutes.
42. It reduces travel time from the current 2 hours via other routes.
43. It connects to JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), one of India’s largest ports.
44. It links with the upcoming Mumbai–Pune Expressway connector.
45. It is expected to handle over 70,000 vehicles per day.
46. It includes ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) using FASTag.
47. It significantly reduces traffic on Sion-Panvel highway and Eastern Express Highway.
48. It enhances access to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
49. No motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, tractors, or pedestrians are allowed.
50. The toll charges are between ₹250 to ₹500, depending on the vehicle type.
51. It includes interchanges at Sewri, Shivaji Nagar, and Chirle.
52. Only 4-wheelers and above are permitted on the bridge.
53. There are multiple exit and entry ramps to manage traffic.
54. It’s part of the larger Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).
55. The bridge drastically reduces carbon emissions by cutting travel time.

🇮🇳 Significance and Impact (56–70)

56. Atal Setu is India’s first sea bridge with such advanced smart systems.
57. It is considered a monumental infrastructure achievement.
58. It boosts regional trade and logistics due to its port connectivity.
59. It’s a game-changer for Mumbai-Navi Mumbai integration.
60. It encourages residential and commercial development in Navi Mumbai.
61. It eases congestion in south Mumbai by providing a direct exit.
62. It’s part of Mumbai’s plan to become a global financial hub.
63. It has become a tourist attraction for its scenic sea view.
64. Named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee to honor his contributions to infrastructure.
65. It supports Make in India with key Indian firms involved.
66. It is an inspiration for future infrastructure projects across India.
67. It creates a faster corridor for emergency services like ambulances.
68. It opens up new job opportunities in logistics, tourism, and urban growth.
69. The bridge is often lit up for festivals and national events.
70. It is a symbol of modern India’s engineering capabilities.