Marine Tunnel A better Option In Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link

18 April, Mumbai

Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that a submarine tunnel instead of 22-km long bridge in the ambitious trans-harbour link project will be a better alternative; both cost wise and from an aesthetic perspective. The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) project will link Mumbai with India’s largest container port JNPT across the harbour on the eastern seafront.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai Friday, Gadkari said that he wants to exploit the full tourism potential of the Mumbai’s coastline, the minister said the bridge should not obstruct the vision of city’s sea coast. Rejecting reports of his differences with state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on this issue.

Gadkari said that final decision will be made by the Maharashtra government and the Centre will accept it. The last estimated cost of MTHL was 8,800 crore rupees. It was supposed to be 22 km long: a 16.5 km long bridge across Mumbai harbour and 5.5 km long on the Sewri and Nhava sides.

Earlier in the day, Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated high-speed passenger Boat service between Bhaucha Dhakka and Mora on the eastern waterfront. The new service is likely to cut travel time between Mumbai and Uran to about 30 minutes from the current one hour.