iNDICA NEWS BUREAU–
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 21.8 km Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-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.
It 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 of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016. It was built at a cost of $2.1 billion.
It is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land. It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
READ: India’s longest sea bridge is an engineering marvel, will be a game changer for Mumbai
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of National Youth Day, emphasized the significance of India’s youth power, which is leading the country’s development in every field.
Inaugurating the 27th National Youth Festival at Tapovan Ground in Maharashtra’s Nashik today, the Prime Minister urged the youth of India to use local products and avoid drugs.
“From the sages and saints of our country to the common man, everyone has always kept youth power paramount. Sri Aurobindo believed that if India wants to achieve her goals, the youth of India will have to move forward with independent thinking. Swami Vivekananda used to say that India’s hopes rest on the character and commitment of her youth,” the PM said.
Underlining the features of the country’s newest engineering marvel and India’s longest sea-bridge — the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu — the chief of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (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.
The MMRDA Commissioner 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.”
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.”
He said that one of the most important features of this bridge is its environmental sustainability. “The Bombay Natural History Society, an organization that works for the environment, has also given a certificate of appreciation to this landmark,” the MMRDA commissioner added.
