MTHL or Atal Setu will open trade opportunities, attract investments for JNPT : Unmesh Sharad Wagh

MUMBAI : The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), Atal Setu connecting Mumbai with its satellite city, Navi Mumbai, will not only help reduce transit time between the two cities but also open up trade opportunities and attract investments in Navi Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port, said Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

“MTHL’s proximity to JNPT and direct access to South Mumbai will open up new trade opportunities and attract more business investments in warehousing, cold storage, and value-added services, further boosting the JNPA SEZ’s economy,” Wagh told.

The MTHL, also known as Atal Setu, is named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It originates from Sewri in Mumbai and terminates at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka in Raigad district. It has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 18,000 crore. 

Wagh added that in the first year after MTHL is inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 12, the enhanced connectivity will result in a substantial decrease in transportation time for cargo movement, thereby elevating JNPT’s overall operational efficiency.

The improved operational efficiency will, in turn, contribute to a more streamlined supply chain, leading to reduced operational costs, and raise the port’s competitiveness on a global scale.

Once inaugurated, MTHL will be India’s longest sea bridge, spanning 22 km, with a 16.5km extension into the sea. Its influence on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will be profound.

The sea bridge is poised to significantly shorten travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes from 2 hours.

Wagh added that the time saved in travel is not only expected to increase productivity, empowering JNPA to handle larger cargo volumes, but will also have a positive impact on trade, customer satisfaction, and, ultimately, the overall growth trajectory of the port.

“The improved connectivity, particularly in the JNPA vicinity, is expected to attract investments. This infusion of capital will help establish robust logistics and warehousing facilities to generate new jobs,” Wagh said.

He added that the projected expansion of JNPT to 10 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2025 will boost MTHL’s significance.

“Atal Setu will play a crucial role in decongesting existing road networks, reducing the environmental impact, and enhancing the overall sustainability of JNPA’s operations,” Wagh told.

The ongoing construction of a 337-km metro network, the operational 46 km segment, and plans for an additional 50 km in 2023-2024 will also help significantly improve Mumbai’s infrastructure and connectivity to Navi Mumbai.

Atal Setu is also likely to boost infrastructure and real estate development in Chembur due to better connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.

Chembur has been the direct beneficiary of some of Mumbai’s key infrastructural projects, which have helped improve connectivity to the area, such as the Eastern Freeway, Santa Cruz–Chembur Link Road, and BKC Connector.