Construction of the 22-km-long Mumbai Trans-Harbour Sea Link (MTHL), which is expected to begin this month-end, will reportedly be open for public use by 2021. The link is set to cut down travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai by 30 minutes. The bridge, being constructed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), includes a six-lane bridge which would be at least 16.5-km-long creek bridge with 5.5 km viaducts (long bridge-like structure) on land on either side. The link has interchanges at Sewri in Mumbai and at Chirle on NH-4B on Navi Mumbai side.
As reported, the authorities began the geological survey for the construction of the bridge from January 15, and a design based on the results of the geological survey would be prepared by the team of contractors. This design will be used during the actual construction of the sea link. Further, the MMRDA has appointed three contractors for the project work and it would be constructed in three packages of the 22-km-long sea link. The government had decided to implement the project on a design basis.
In order to initiate this, a proposal was sent to Government of India with the recommendation of Maharashtra Government for obtaining Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA has agreed to fund 85 per cent of the total project cost of Rs 17,843 crore. The consultants appointed by JICA have carried out preparatory survey in April 2015 for the project for appraising the project for JICA, which was completed last year. This survey includes technical study and the environmental and social impact assessment studies.
