iNDICA NEWS BUREAU–
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Friday morning to inaugurate India’s longest sea-bridge. The 21.8-km Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL) connects Sewri in South Mumbai to Chirle near Navi Mumbai, reducing the commute from the current two hours to 20 minutes. The Mumbai Trans Harbor link (MTHL), now named ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ is India’s longest bridge and also the longest sea bridge. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Prime Minister Modi in December 2016.
The six-lane Atal Setu was constructed at a cost of $2.1 billion. It is built 16.5 km over sea and about 5.5 km on land.
It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port, officials said.
The PM will also inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than $1.5 billion during the public program in Navi Mumbai, a satellite city of Mumbai.
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway’s Orange Gate to Marine Drive. The 9.2 km tunnel will be built at a cost of more than $1 billion and will be a significant infrastructure development in Mumbai which will reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marine Drive, officials added.
The Prime Minister will dedicate Phase 1 of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project to the nation. The project, developed at a cost of more than $200 million will provide drinking water supply to Palghar and Thane districts of Maharashtra, benefiting about 1.4 million people, officials added.
During the program, Modi will dedicate about $250 million worth railway projects to the nation. These include Phase 2 of Uran-Kharkopar railway line to enhance connectivity to Navi Mumbai as suburban services running between Nerul/Belapur to Kharkopar will now be extended to Uran.
Other rail projects that will be dedicated to the nation include a new suburban station Digha Gaon on the Thane-Vashi/Panvel Trans-harbour line and the new sixth line between Khar Road & Goregaon railway station. The projects will benefit hundreds of thousands of daily commuters in Mumbai.
According to the PMO, the Prime Minister will inaugurate ‘Bharat Ratnam’ (Mega Common Facilitation Centre) for Gems and Jewellery sector at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone- Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ SEZ).
It is the first of its kind 3D metal printing facility. This will house a training school for skilling of workforce for this sector, including specially-abled students. The Mega CFC will transform the export sector in Gems and Jewellery trade and will help the domestic manufacturing also.
Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the New Enterprises and Services Tower (NEST)- 01 at SEEPZ- SEZ. The NEST – 01 is primarily for Gem and Jewellery sector units which will be relocated from existing Standard Design Factory – I.
The PM will also inaugurate the 27th National Youth Festival (NYF) in Nashik.
