Trans Harbour line can’t take Metro load, says consultant

MTHL Metro will encourage mass transport and cater to future travel demand of city

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) found itself in a spot after the consultant informed the undertaking that constructing a Metro along the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) connecting Sewri with Nhava Sheva will be difficult due to the load issues on the bridge. Metropolitan Commissioner SVR Srinivas said that they are now exploring the options about how the Metro can be constructed.

The consultant has informed us that constructing a Metro along the MTHL will be difficult due to the load issue on the sea bridge but we are exploring options," Srinivas said.

As per the project, MTHL will connect south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in a mere 20 minutes as compared to the current travel time of 120 minutes. File pic

MMRDA has planned a Metro corridor from Prabhadevi to Sewri and further to the mainland through Navi Mumbai to a suitable location on the Panvel-Pen section, having interchange stations and facilities with the existing and proposed rail system.

According to MMRDA officials, the MTHL Metro corridor will induce and accelerate the development of the mainland. MTHL Metro will encourage mass transport and cater to the future travel demand of the mainland. It will also facilitate decongestion and save fuel consumption.

MTHL, also known as the Sewri Nhava Sheva Harbour Link, is a 22-km project, of which 15.5 km will pass over the sea, connecting Sewri with Nhava Sheva. It will be a six-lane bridge with an around 16.5-km long bridge over the sea and a 5.5-km long viaduct on land on either side. The link has interchanges at Sewri in central Mumbai, Shivaji Nagar at Mumbai and NH-4 B at Chirle, Navi Mumbai.

MTHL will feature approach sections, interchanges, an intelligence transport system (ITS) and the other amenities required for a sea bridge. The traffic conditions on the stretch will be monitored and managed from the traffic control centre with the help of CCTV cameras and related facilities installed on the stretch.

MTHL will connect south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in a mere 20 minutes as compared to the current travel time of 120 minutes. It has been identified as an important infrastructure to improve the connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and continue economic development in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The project cost is Rs 17,843 crore and 80 per cent of pier works are completed. Around 65 per cent of the overall project is completed and is expected to be fully ready by 2023.

2023
Year MTHL is slated to be completed