Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Atal Setu, or Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), on Friday. The 21.8km sea-bridge, also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, is the longest in the country and will be opened to commuters starting Saturday. The bridge will primarily benefit travelers between south Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, reducing their journey time significantly. However, its true potential will be unleashed once other infrastructure projects, such as the Sewri-Worli elevated corridor, the Eastern Freeway-Marine Drive tunnel, the proposed Chirle-Palaspe connection with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and the international airport in Navi Mumbai are completed.

These additional projects, expected to be completed over the next five years, will make Atal Setu accessible to people from a much wider geography. They will ensure the integration of the western waterfront and the eastern waterfront of the island city through a network of tunnels and flyovers in south Mumbai.

In its first year, the bridge will have a toll of INR 250 for a one-way trip and INR 375 for a round trip. The bridge will also provide a shorter route to the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations in December. The Navi Mumbai Coastal Road, once completed, will further enhance connectivity to the airport.

The combination of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to propel the growth of the ‘Third Mumbai’ area, which spans over 334 sq km. This region is primarily located within the NAINA (Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area) project, planned as a residential, commercial, and business node. Previous attempts at developing NAINA failed, but the promise of a 20-minute drive to Sewri in the city via the sea-bridge, along with the accessibility offered by the new airport and the existing Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, is likely to make the ‘Third Mumbai’ project a success.

The completion of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway link road, as well as upcoming railway and metro connectivity, is expected to bring new life to NAINA as well.

Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration of Atal Setu marks a significant milestone in India’s infrastructure development. The bridge is poised to greatly improve connectivity and boost economic growth in the Mumbai metropolitan area.