'Atal Setu' gets cold response from motorists; MMRDA worries of loan repayment

In the last three months, 21 lakh 92 thousand 466 vehicles have passed through the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Sea Bridge. While opening this sea bridge for traffic, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had claimed that 70,000 vehicles would ply a day. But actually only 20 to 21 thousand vehicles pass through it per day.

MMRDA constructed this 21.80 km sea bridge, the longest in the country, to bridge the distance from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in just 20 minutes. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12. The sea bridge was opened for vehicular traffic on the second day (January 13) at 8 am after the inauguration. Vehicles run at a speed of 100 km per hour from this sea bridge and the time required to reach Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Alibaug, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Pune has been reduced. However, the expected number of vehicles are not plying on this sea bridge.

Eight lakh 13 thousand 774 vehicles ran over the sea bridge within a month after its inauguration. That means 27 thousand vehicles were running on it every day. But now it has decreased. Between 20 and 21 thousand vehicles are running per day. In the three months from January 13 to April 21, only 21 lakh 92 thousand 466 vehicles ran over Sagari Setu. They include 21 lakh 10 thousand 995 cars, 16 thousand 569 mini buses, 20 thousand 921 trucks or buses, 17 thousand 614 three axle vehicles, 26 thousand 262 four-six axle vehicles and 105 heavy duty vehicles. While 70,000 vehicles are expected to run on Atal Setu, which was inaugurated with great fanfare, in reality this figure has not gone beyond 21,000 on an average.

Backing out of drivers due to excess road tax?

It is said that the number of vehicles plying at Atal Setu is low as the toll is high and the link road connecting the bridge at both ends is incomplete. Therefore, along with reducing the road tax, there is a need to complete both the roads as soon as possible.

Revenue concern to MMRDA

A loan of 17 thousand crores has been taken from JICA for Atal Setu and its repayment will start from 2028. In that case, as less vehicles are running, the revenue is also getting less. This has increased MMRDA's concern. But soon the Sewri-Worli elevated road connecting the bridge will be completed. MMRDA has expressed the belief that the completion of Ulwe Interchange, Chirle-Kone Road will increase the response on Atal Setu.