Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India's longest bridge, in Maharashtra on Friday.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.
Atal Setu is also the longest sea bridge in the country and will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India.
The foundation stone for the country's longest sea bridge was laid by PM Modi in December 2016.
Spanning about 21.8 kms, the Atal Setu features six lanes, each of a length of about 16.5 kms over the sea and about 5.5 km on land.
It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport while also reducing travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will also improve connectivity between the Mumbai port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Underlining the features of the country's newest engineering marvel - Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu - the metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA, Sanjay Mukherjee, on Thursday said the steel used for the construction of the bridge is 17 times that of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, 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)."
On the many new-age features of the country's longest sea bridge and all the technology that went into its construction, Mukherjee said, "This bridge is equipped with the latest technology and several new-age features, including orthotropic steel decks that help in giving huge spans. River circulation rings have also been used to minimise sound and vibrations to safeguard marine life. The lights used in this bridge also won't impede or disturb the aquatic environment around it."
"One of the most important features of this bridge is its environmental sustainability. The Bombay Natural History Society, an organisation that works for the environment, has also given a certificate of appreciation to this landmark," the MMRDA metropolitan commissioner added.
He added that motorcycles, autorickshaws and tractors won't be allowed to run on the bridge, as a maximum speed limit has been set for vehicles to maintain traffic flow.
(ANI)