How the MTHL changed Mumbai

By: The Arnav Writes Team
First Upload: 18th July 2024, 18:23
Last Update: 13th December 2025, 16:45

The Mumbai Trans Harbor Link, also known as Atal setu is India's longest sea bridge, spanning 21.6 km from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai, reducing the travel distance between the two cities significantly.

This bridge was opened on 12th January 2024 by the nation's prime minister Narendra Modi Ji, with an aim to cut travel distance, time, usage of fuel.

The Mumbai Trans-Harbor Link passing by the Bhabha Atomic Research Center on left.

Features of the MTHL

Length: The Bridge is 21.6 KM long, with 5.5 KM over land & 16.5 KM over the sea. It is India's longest sea bridge, overtaking bridges such as Howrah Steel Bridge & Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Capacity: The Bridge can handle upto 70,000 Vehicles per day, which is around ~3000 vehicles per hour!
Speed Limit: The current legal speed limit is 100 KPH, but there is no need to rush, the view is worth looking out for at a lower speed.
Protection: The Bridge has noise barriers throughout the bridge & has covers the Bhabha Atomic Research Center which is not for public view.
Consideration for Flamingos: As flamingos live close to the Bridge, it was decided that there will not be any fancy suspension bridge & just a pillar bridge to avoid obstructing the flight path of the flamingos.

MTHL view towards Sewri

2. How has the bridge changed Mumbai?

Distance: The Travel distance from mainland to the Mumbai Peninsula has decreased significantly by 15.1 KM as now vehicles do not need to use the old Vashi Bridge & go towards south Mumbai.
Time: The Travel time has also gone down with the distance from 48 Minutes down to just under 20 Minutes, which is such a stress reducer!
Controlled Access: The MTHL only allows cars, buses & trucks and not any vehicle from India's diverse list of road transport modes. This is why there are consistently vehicles moving without becoming an obstruction on the road.
Economic Impact: As the Bridge allows for a faster connectivity between the mainland & Mumbai, the real estate market in the Navi Mumbai side has grown drastically, along with that, residents can now pay a lower rent by living a bit farther away from Mumbai peninsula & still be at the office on time.
Less Hassles: With the bridge now being able to handle a larger amount of traffic, therefore reducing the traffic on the old Vashi Bridge. This is a major relief for people who needed to spend extra time at the toll plaza.

Old Route is Yellow with distance of 36.7 KM. The Red Line is the MTHL with a distance of 21.6 KM, a total difference of 15.1 KM!

Comparision: Is the Atal Setu actually faster than the older route?

3.Comparision Time: MTHL compred with other bridges across the world.

While the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link stands out as the most impressive bridge in India by its amazing sea length, it most certainly is not alone in the world stage. Down below we compare some of the other bridges of the world with it.

1.Hong Kong-Macau Bridge

Spanning 55 km, it links three cities via bridges, tunnels, and islands, cutting travel time, boosting trade, and showcasing remarkable maritime engineering.

2. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Stretching 38.4 km across Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, its parallel bridges provide vital transport, scenic views, and recognition as one of the world’s longest continuous over-water bridges.

3. Donghai Bridge

The 32.5 km Donghai Bridge connects Shanghai to Yangshan Port over the East China Sea, facilitating cargo transport and exemplifying large-scale sea bridge engineering.

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