Steel 17 times that of Eiffel tower used to build Mumbai's Atal Setu: MMRDA chief

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road/MMRDA

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, the newest engineering marvel in Mumbai, has several remarkable aspects. Sanjay Mukherjee, the metropolitan commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, pointed out that the steel utilised in its construction is 17 times that of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Constructed at an approximate expense of Rs 17,840 crore, the bridge is the longest maritime bridge in India, according to a report in ANI.

Reportedly, the Atal Setu, which would improve travel times to Pune, Goa, and South India, and improve the connection between Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Additionally, the bridge improves communication between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the port of Mumbai.

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Speaking to ANI, Mukherjee said, "The steel used for the construction of this bridge is 17 times that of the Eiffel Tower. The structural steel used is four times that of the Howrah Bridge. The concrete used in the construction of this major sea link is also six times that of the Statue of Liberty (in the US)."

According to the ANI report, the commissioner emphasised the bridge's cutting-edge features and technological innovations, such as its orthotropic steel decks for its large spans and its river circulation rings, which reduce noise and vibrations and save marine life. The Bombay Natural History Society also awarded the Atal Setu recognition for environmental sustainability.

Mukherjee clarified, "The most cutting-edge traffic management system has been installed in this bridge. It can detect fog, low visibility and vehicles running beyond the stipulated speed limits, among other things."

To preserve traffic flow, the bridge places a maximum speed limit on cars and restricts the use of motorcyclists, autorickshaws, and tractors, he further told ANI.

PM Modi will launch other projects in Navi Mumbai including a 9.2-km-long underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway's Orange Gate to Marine Drive, costing more than Rs 8,700 crore. Additionally, he will dedicate Phase 1 of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project, developed at a cost exceeding Rs 1,975 crore, benefiting about 14 lakh population in the Palghar and Thane districts of Maharashtra.

With agency inputs