Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the country’s longest sea bridge, officially known as Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link, on Friday. Stretching over 21.8 km, the MTHL, developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) over seven years, is designed to last a century. It boasts three interchanges connecting various highways and roads, aiming to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to a mere 20-minute drive from Sewri to Chirle.
The MMRDA’s quarterly progress report projects substantial traffic growth on the bridge, estimating a surge from 39,300 passenger cars in its initial opening year to approximately 1.03 lakh cars by 2032.
Despite its imminent inauguration, decisions regarding bus services on the toll road are yet to be finalized by transportation authorities. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is currently deliberating the rollout of bus services on the MTHL bridge. Concerns over the absence of bus stops on the bridge and the assessment of passenger demand in less-densely populated areas served by two interchanges—Chirle and Ulwe—contribute to the uncertainty about bus services.
Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar emphasized the importance of evaluating passenger demand, with toll considerations secondary to passenger count for public bus services. The municipal corporation, responsible for bus services to Mumbai along the Mantralaya route, is actively considering the bridge’s utility for bus passengers.
Similarly, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has not finalized plans for introducing bus services on the MTHL bridge, primarily due to uncertainties surrounding toll payment.
The Maharashtra government has disclosed a toll of Rs 250 for one-way single-journey vehicles, while tolls for other vehicle types are yet to be announced. The MMRDA quarterly project report from January to March 2023 proposed a toll of Rs 550 for buses. The cash-strapped BEST, seeking toll-free access to the MTHL, is awaiting a government decision on the matter.