Hi-tech cameras to rein in speedsters on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road

As India's longest sea bridge, connecting Sewri and Nhava Sheva, is scheduled to be opened in the coming months, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is preparing for a unique approach to road safety. MMRDA has announced the deployment of cutting-edge cameras strategically positioned over the expansive 22-kilometre bridge to combat speeding.

Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee told mid-day that there will be a high-end section and spot speed enforcement system that will be in place on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). The speed limit on the main bridge will be 100 kmph and 40 kmph on curved ramps of MTHL.

"On MTHL, there will be 12 section speed cameras and 28 spot speed cameras. The major advantage of these cameras is that they will provide safe passage to road users. It will help in detecting and controlling the speed of the vehicles within the defined limit. It will also help to penalise the speeding motorists along the project," said Dr Mukherjee. MMRDA is confident that this technology will help increase road safety, smooth traffic flow and will also help in reducing the accidents and incidents along the project.

Maharashtra BJP has claimed that the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, touted as India's longest sea bridge, will be thrown open for public use on December 25 but the government agency implementing the project said although it is 97 per cent complete, the remaining work is not likely to get over by that time.

MMRDA has reportedly recommended a one-way toll of Rs 500 while the state government has proposed a one-way toll of Rs 350. It is being said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who also heads the Urban Development Department and is also MMRDA chairman will make a final decision on the same soon.

The MTHL, also known as Sewri-Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link, (officially Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Trans Harbour Link) is an under-construction sea bridge that is expected to accommodate about 70,000 vehicles daily. MMRDA is the nodal agency for the project. As per MMRDA, the 21.8-kilometre six-lane access-controlled bridge from Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai has three interchanges.

One interchange is at Sewri in South Mumbai, connecting MTHL to Eastern Freeway (Mumbai Side), second at Shivaji Nagar in Ulwe connecting MTHL to Navi Mumbai Coastal Road Project and the third at Chirle interchange - where one arm will connect the State Highway-54 and the second arm will connect NH4 Mumbai Pune Highway.

Section speed camera

A section speed camera, also known as a point-to-point camera, is designed to measure the average speed of vehicles over a specific section of road. These cameras are typically placed to capture vehicle speed and identification data. The cameras are connected to a central traffic management system, which uses the data to calculate average speeds and monitor traffic flow in the section being monitored. Section speed cameras can be used to enforce speed limits, identify congestion hotspots and improve overall traffic flow and safety.

Spot speed camera

A spot speed camera is a device that measures the speed of passing vehicles at a specific location on the road network. These cameras are often mounted on poles or other roadside structures and can capture speed data for individual vehicles as they pass by. This data is then sent to a central traffic management system for analysis, allowing transportation engineers to monitor traffic flow and congestion levels in real time. Spot speed cameras can also be used to trigger traffic signals, adjust speed limits, and provide drivers with real-time traffic information.