In a significant development, the much-awaited Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL) will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, senior officials at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have confirmed to the Free Press Journal.
"We were not sure of the date as we were told by the government and the Prime Minister's Office to be ready as the PM will also be busy with the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple. Now we have been given the green signal and it is confirmed that MTHL will be inaugurated on January 12," officials added.
It is pertinent to note that on the same day, the PM is expected to inaugurate Digha station on the Airoli-Kalwa route. He will also flag off Phase II of the fourth suburban line till Uran. The fourth line, which was partially opened between Seawood and Kharkopar in 2016, is likely to be opened till Uran during this event.
Besides, PM is expected to lay the foundation stone for two underground road projects in south Mumbai and Thane.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has constructed MTHL, is also building the Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel and the Thane-Borivali twin tunnel.
Touted as one of the longest underground tunnels in the city, the Orange Gate on the Eastern Freeway will connect to Marine Drive 40 meters below ground level.
The aim is to provide a seamless road-based transit system with just a 10-minute driving distance from the Eastern Freeway to the Coastal Road. It will also enhance signal free connectivity between East and West coast of Mumbai through Eastern Freeway, MTHL, Coastal Road and Bandra Worli Sea Link.
This east-west Orange Gate-Marine Drive project is being executed to decongest stretches such as the junctions at Crawford Market, GPO and CSMT as this tunnel road will be like a bypass for traffic headed to and from Marine Drive.
Moreover, the INR 14,400 crore Borivali tunnel project is expected to reduce the journey between Thane and Borivali from 90 minutes to 15-20 minutes. This will help in reducing traffic congestion on Ghodbunder Road. The route will consist of an 11.8 km connecting road with two 10.25 km long three-lane tunnels under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park from Tikuji-Ni-Wadi in Thane to the Western Expressway in Borivali.
The Thane-Borivali tunnel is expected to be a game-changer. The existing alignment via Ghodbunder is 23km long and the tunnel will save 13km of commute.
The MTHL, an engineering marvel, will take off from Sewri in South Mumbai, cross the Thane Bay and end at Chirle on the far outskirts of Navi Mumbai. It is expected to handle 70,000 vehicles per day. Motorists can cross the bridge at a speed of 100kmph in 15 minutes.
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