Mumbai, January 12: Stating that the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) will turn out to be a game changer for Maharashtra's economic and social development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 21-km-long sea bridge called 'Atal Setu'.
"The union government is committed to infrastructural development in the country and the state of Maharashtra has been at the forefront of the same. With MTHL, the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Bandra-Versova Sea Link and other infrastructure projects, the state has shown to the rest of the country the way development should be done in a systematic way," Modi said after inaugurating MTHL and host of other projects.
He was addressing a mammoth gathering of close to 50,000 people who had come from different parts of the state to attend the function.
"Today is the day that epitomises the dream of 'Vikasit Bharat'. Though the event is being held in Mumbai, but it has got the attention of the entire country. I am feeling very proud to dedicate MTHL, the engineering wonder to the country. This is example of how we Indians can connect country through a bridge of commitment by even cutting through the sea," Modi said and congratulated the people of Maharashtra for their zeal and commitment.
"When I had come to lay the foundation stone for Atal Setu in 2016, I had stated that the country would change and develop. Today I feel very happy to reiterate that the country will prosper. Just last year, I had inaugurated the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg and today I am hear again to dedicate this longest coastal bridge to the nation, Modi said.
"The earlier government only made promises..."
The Prime Minister also congratulated the state government for completing two mega projects within two years and felt proud that these projects were conceived and completed since the day his government came to power in 2014. "The earlier government only made promises of development but it was our government that delivered those," the Prime Minister said.
"Besides infrastructure development, the country has made progress when it comes to women empowerment, socio-economic development and science and technology," he said and congratulated the people of the state for this achievement.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Suzuki, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, union ministers Ramdas Athavale, Raosaheb Danve, Ashwini Vaishnav, Maharashtra ministers, MPs, MLAs and other dignitaries also attended the function.
All About Atal Setu
Constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore, Atal Setu or MTHL will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport. The bridge is set to cut travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Atal Setu is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land.
