Decks are all clear for the much-talked-about, awaited, ambitiousMumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) that would link the island city with NaviMumbai.
The Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, hassanctioned the Viability Gap Funding to the tune of Rs 1,920 crores last week.The crucial decision has paved way for the bidding process of the all-importantMTHL.
The effort, to lend the city of Mumbai its due numero unostatus on the world stage, received a boost when the Government of Maharashtradecided to develop the much awaited Mumbai Trans Harbour Link through theMumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). This link will notonly offer easy and faster connectivity to the city, but also save invaluabletime and fuel.
The 22-km sea bridge “ from the sea front at Sewri toChirle, connecting NH-4B “ is certain to provide an answer to the traffic woesof the city.
Besides decongesting the island city of Mumbai the Link willprovide connectivity to Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Jawaharlal Nehru PortTrust (JNPT) ports and afford quicker access to the proposed Navi MumbaiInternational Airport.
It will not only provide connectivity to commuters travelingtowards Thane-Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Panvel-Pune and further to southern India.The sea bridge is also expected to boost the economical growth to the whole ofRaigad district and its surrounding areas.
The 22 km long Link will be 27 mtr wide and provide 3+3lanes besides providing edge strip and crash barrier. To meet the environmentalrequirements the Link will have noise barriers near Sewri mud flat area andalso view barriers at BARC.
The all-crucial Link is expected to carry more than 62,000passenger car units in the year 2019 and an annual growth of about 5% isestimated. The MMRDA has also undertaken a few additional corridors tofacilitate the anticipated traffic dispersal. The 17 km long Eastern Freewaywhich runs from Orange Gate to Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road is a key link foreffective dispersal of traffic. This Freeway is likely to be completed in May,2013. The 4.25 km Sewri-Worli (East-West) elevated connector running from SewriRailway station to Dr Annie Besant Road (Worli) wll provide east connectivityat the Sewri Interchange of the MTHL. The Detailed Project Report for thiselevated connector is nearing completion. The third major connector for trafficdispersal is the Chirle-NH17-Mumba-Pune Expressway Connector. The feasibilitystudy for this project is also under way.
The Project has been recommended for CRZ clearance inSeptember 2012, by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the MoEF, GOI. ThePrequalification of the MTHL has been completed and major Indian andInternational companies participated therein. MMRDA has shortlisted 5 consortianamely M/s. CINTRA “ SOMA “SREI, M/s. Gammon“OHL Concessions“G.S. Engineering,M/s. GMR“L & T Ltd“Samsung, M/s.IRB“Hyundai and M/s.Tata Realty andInfrastructure Limited“Autostrade“Vinci Concessions.
Consultant M/s.ARUP-CES-KPMG Consortium, have taken up allthe studies and bid process management. The project with an estimated cost ofRs. 9,630-crore will be implemented on a public-private partnership basis. Theconstruction period will be five years.
