After receiving a backlash over its delay in commencement, the 21.8-km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India’s longest sea bridge, is expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12.
According to a latest report, the Maharashtra government has sent a formal request to the prime minister’s office for his presence at the inauguration. Later, the Chief Minister Office (CMO) released an official statement and shared: “PM Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the National Youth Festival in Nashik on January 12 and a formal request has been sent to the central government for his presence for the inauguration of India’s longest sea bridge on the same day.”
The bridge has passed the load carrying capacity tests held over the last fortnight and is ready to be opened for vehicular traffic. The project is now operationally completed, though ancillary work outside the vehicular corridor is expected to be completed in the next few days, according to officials.
In the last couple of weeks, the work on toll plazas, control and command structure and other ancillary work has been completed. An officer said the work on the connectors, including the one connecting Worli, are separate projects and they will be completed in their own course.
The sea bridge would have an open road tolling system, which allows uninterrupted passage of the vehicles without having to stop at the toll plazas. However, the crucial call on the toll on the corridor will be taken by the state government shortly. Though the MMRDA has proposed a toll of ₹500, but it could be reduced to ₹300- ₹350 keeping the election season in mind.
The toll proposed by the MMRDA is justified keeping the cost of the price and the saving of time and fuel. Chief minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads MMRDA, is expected to take a call on the toll charges before its opening, added the official.
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