PM inaugurates Rs.17,840cr sea bridge Atal Setu
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has laid the foundation stone of an 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 Rs.8,700 crores and will be a significant infrastructure development in Mumbai which will reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marine Drive.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated and dedicated to the nation other projects including Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu built at a cost of more than Rs.17,840 crores in Navi Mumbai on 12 Jan 2024.
The Prime Minister said the completion of India’s longest sea bridge Atal Setu is a proof of his Government’s commitment towards the country’s growth.
He recalled laying the sea bridge’s foundation stone on 24 Dec 2016.
“Every such project contributes to the development of a magnificent India,” he underscored.
The Prime Minister thanked the Government of Japan for their assistance and remembered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “We had resolved to complete the construction of this bridge as quickly as possible.”
The Prime Minister informed that the construction of Atal Setu involved employing around 17,000 laborers and 1,500 engineers while also creating employment opportunities in the transport and construction industries. “Atal Setu will strengthen all business activities in the region and also boost Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Life,” he added.
Atal Setu is about a 21.8 km long 6-lane bridge having about 16.5 km length over the sea and about 5.5 km on the land.
The Prime Minister’s vision is to improve the ‘ease of mobility’ of citizens by strengthening urban transport infrastructure and connectivity. In line with this vision, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), now named ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ has been built. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.
Other projects:
The Prime Minister dedicated phase 1 of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project to the Nation. The project, developed at a cost of more than Rs.1,975 crore will provide drinking water supply to the Palghar and Thane district of Maharashtra, benefiting about 14 lakh population.
During the programme, the Prime Minister dedicated railway projects worth about Rs.2,000 crores to the Nation. These include the dedication of ‘Phase 2 of Uran-Kharkopar railway line’ which will enhance connectivity to Navi Mumbai as suburban services running between Nerul/Belapur to Kharkopar will now be extended to Uran. The Prime Minister also flagged off the inaugural run of the EMU train from Uran railway station to Kharkopar.
Other rail projects that will be dedicated to Nation include a new suburban station ‘Digha Gaon’ on the Thane-Vashi/Panvel Trans-harbour line and the new 6th Line between Khar Road & Goregaon railway station. The projects will benefit the thousands of daily commuters in Mumbai.
The Prime Minister inaugurated ‘Bharat Ratnam’ (Mega Common Facilitation Centre) for Gems and Jewellery sector at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone – Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ SEZ), which is the first of its kind in India with the best available machines in the world including 3D Metal printing. This will house a training school for skilling of the workforce for this sector including specially-abled students. The Mega CFC will transform the export sector in the Gems and Jewellery trade and will help domestic manufacturing also.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the New Enterprises & Services Tower (NEST)- 01 at SEEPZ- SEZ. The NEST-01 is primarily for Gem & Jewellery sector units which will be relocated from the existing Standard Design Factory – I. The new tower has been designed for large-scale production and as per the demand of the industry. Fiinews.com
