How Will The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Facilitate Travel for Residents of Mumbai and Influence the Mumbai Real Estate Market?

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and Mumbai Real Estate Market

The longest sea bridge in the country is currently being built in Mumbai. Connecting Sewri in South Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) is a massive civil project spearheaded by the MMRDA.

Once completed, commuters will be able to traverse the distance between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in 15 to 20 minutes, thereby saving precious time and fuel. 

The six-lane access-controlled sea bridge is being constructed in record time by employing the Japanese cutting-edge Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) technology.

The 22-kilometer-long bridge consists of a 16.5-kilometer-long sea bridge and 5.5-kilometer-long land viaducts on either side. In order to reduce traffic congestion, the Open Road Tolling System (ORTS) would also be implemented.

ORTS is a newly introduced technology in MMR.

The highlight is the fact that you do not need to halt to pay the toll. Even when using FASTags, you are required to halt at toll plazas or at least decelerate to a standstill in order to pay the toll. With this new technology, the toll will be automatically deducted from your pocketbook as you pass through the toll plaza, according to SVR Srinivas, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

MTHL will also be integrated with the Mumbai Coastal Road and Eastern Motorway in Mumbai, as well as the Mumbai-Pune Motorway in Navi Mumbai, to enhance connectivity. This is done with the intense traffic flow in mind in order to avoid bottlenecks.

The proposition for this ambitious MMRDA project was under consideration for more than three decades. We are confident that upon conclusion of this initiative, MTHL will expand the boundaries of Mumbai.

Commercial expansion

Improved connectivity as a result of the MTHL is anticipated to generate new business and employment opportunities. It will also improve connectivity between South Mumbai and the Raigad district, the JNPA, the Mumbai-Pune Motorway, the Mumbai-Goa Express Highway, and the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.

This improved connectivity will not only increase employment in the region, but it will also create new investment opportunities for the overall economic growth of the southern part of the region.

A thriving economy requires a number of factors, such as a sufficient supply of raw materials, a savvy market, and sufficient finished goods, among others. As a result of MTHL's citywide connectivity, all of these locations will be approximately 12 minutes away. Therefore, one can anticipate a seismic shift in the performance of commerce, supply and demand, and market economics in both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. 

Boom in Mumbai Real Estate Market

The entire MMR will receive an automatic upgrade, and the connectivity and logistics improvements will have a positive effect on the Mumbai real estate market as a whole. Mumbai is a city that is constantly in motion, and any addition to infrastructure that enhances connectivity aids the development of the real estate market in that region and in all surrounding areas. With the advent of MTHL, the Mumbai real estate market will be bolstered significantly.

Sustainable development

In an effort to enhance economic and infrastructure facilities, MMRDA did not overlook the importance of sustainability and nature conservation. Thus, measures have been implemented to guarantee that the project addresses all environmental concerns. Specially imported hydraulic pile rigs with very low noise levels are being used, noise barriers are being installed in the Sewri mudflat area (where flamingos visit annually from November to April), and a temporary access bridge would be used instead of a solid embankment in the mudflats and intertidal areas to cause minimal damage to the mudflats.

Engineering engaged

 This testing endeavour required the MMRDA to surmount numerous technical obstacles, including the installation of underwater utility lines, lengthy navigational channels, tidal currents, and sea traffic. This structure will be capable of carrying one million vehicles per day. And efforts are being made to expedite the construction of lengthier (navigational/required) spans. Total structural steel used for the steel bridge (OSD) section of this sea bridge is approximately 38,000 metric tonnes. This material was manufactured in four countries (Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Myanmar) and delivered in the form of modular panels.

MMRDA has installed 1,550 mm of hybrid impact barriers in total. It is a composite concrete-metal barrier with a 900-millimeter-tall concrete segment and a 650-millimeter-tall metal section. Originally, MMRDA intended to erect five-foot-tall barriers on either side of the roadway, but discarded the idea for two reasons: it would obstruct the view of the ocean and create a tunnel effect while travelling.

The newly adopted concrete-metal barriers for MTHL meet the requirements of International Standard EN 1317. In accordance with international safety standards, physical collision evaluations on these barriers were successful. Additionally, crash testing was conducted in the United Kingdom and Korea. In addition to ensuring safety, the barriers are constructed so that commuters can appreciate the view of the ocean and flamingos.