A huge construction project in Maharashtra was finished on January 12, 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the near 22-kilometer bridge which links Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai.
A year after its inauguration, India’s longest sea bridge Atal Setu, had an average daily traffic of less than 23,000 vehicles, which was way less than their initial estimates of more than 56,000 vehicles.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu is the longest link in India and the biggest structure of this type on the sea. It was built at an approximate cost of Rs 17,840 crore.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, also known as the Atal Setu, was referred to as “emerging as a symbol of modern infrastructure, safety, and efficiency” in a statement made by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Monday.
“The bridge, that crosses over the Thane creek, facilitated the movement of 83,06,009 vehicles over the past year, significantly contributing to smoother and faster transit between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai”, the state-run agency said.
As per an MMRDA report, “on an average 57,525 vehicles were projected to use the bridge daily by 2021 (the structure was inaugurated after much delays) and 88,550 by 2031.” The MMRDA also pointed out that “As many as 77,28,149 cars, 99,660 mini buses and LCVs, 1,17,604 buses and two-axle trucks, 1,99,636 three-axle vehicles, 1,60,061 four to six-axle ones and 899 overdimension vehicles used the Atal Setu in the last one year.”
“With an average daily traffic of 22,689 vehicles since its inauguration, the bridge witnessed its highest single-day count of 61,807 on January 14, 2024, just after it was thrown open for people’s use,” the release said.
Reason Behind Low Traffic on Atal Setu:
According to the experts, the toll at Atal Setu is expensive, ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 250 for a one-way trip and posiibly being one of the main reasons for the low traffic. A round-trip ticket cost Rs 300, Rs 500 for day passes, and around Rs 10,000 for monthly passes. But without the additional toll fees, the alternative road via the Vashi Toll Naka can take almost the same travel times between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The recent decision by the state government to exclude smaller cars from Mumbai from all five entrance points, which includes the Vashi Toll Naka tolls, has changed traffic patterns further and also added to the low uptake of MTHL.