India’s Longest Sea Bridge Inaugurated on 12th January 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the longest sea bridge in India, named Atal Setu, on 12th January 2024. This bridge is named after the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), this bridge cost over ₹17,840 crore. Spanning 21.8 kilometres, it covers 16.5 km on sea and 5.5 km on land. The Atal Setu connects Navi Mumbai to South Mumbai, and it reduces the travelling time between the two points from 2 hours to 20 minutes. 

In December of 2016, the foundation of the bridge was laid. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) constructed this bridge. A toll of ₹250 has to be paid to cross the bridge from one side to another. 

Built With 17 Times More Steel Than the Eiffel Tower, the Atal Setu is considered an architectural marvel of India. It is earthquake-resistant and is built with high-performance concrete immune to the damage caused by ocean water. 

The Atal Setu is currently the 12th longest Sea bridge in the world, with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge in China being in the first position with a length of 54 km. 

PM Narendra Modi expressed his joy about India’s growing infrastructural power and mentioned the Atal Setu as one of the marvels of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ or Developed India.