Table of Contents
The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) is set to be connected to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in a bid to ease traffic congestion and reduce travel time between the two cities.
The project will involve constructing an elevated corridor and an interchange at Chirle, which is expected to cost ₹1,000 crore.
This move is expected to benefit thousands of commuters who regularly travel between the two cities.
Benefits of the New Corridor
The new elevated corridor will provide several benefits to commuters travelling between Mumbai and Pune.
Firstly, it will reduce travel time by up to 90 minutes, as commuters will be able to bypass congested roads in Navi Mumbai.
Additionally, the corridor will solve the bottleneck issue in Navi Mumbai caused by narrow lane connectivity, creating smoother traffic movement between the two cities.
Bypassing Traffic and Access to Navi Mumbai International Airport
The corridor will also enable vehicles in the Nhava Sheva area of Navi Mumbai to take a 1.5km detour and bypass traffic altogether during peak hours, reducing delays of up to 40 minutes.
Furthermore, the MTHL will pass by the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport, making it easily accessible to commuters.
Progress on the MTHL Project
The MTHL sea bridge, which is 92% complete, will link Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Raigad and is expected to be operational by December 2023.
The project is being executed at a cost of ₹18,000 crore, and the MMRDA recently completed casting a total of 3,132 segments for one of the stretches of the bridge.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding the MTHL, has extended an official development assistance (ODA) loan of 30,755 million Yen (approximately ₹1,927 crore) for the project.
A Wonderful Achievement
SVR Srinivas, Metropolitan Commissioner MMRDA, praised the progress made on the MTHL project, calling the completion of the project a “wonderful achievement,” as the MTHL crosses another milestone and moves closer towards completion.
The new elevated corridor connecting the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to MTHL will be a boon for commuters, reducing travel time and providing smoother traffic movement.
The project will not only benefit frequent travellers between Mumbai and Pune, but also those commuting to the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
With construction underway and progress being made, the MTHL project is set to be a significant development for the region.