Modi opens Mumbai's new marvel over the sea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated India's longest sea bridge that stretches across 21.8 kilometres and aims to transform the journey from the island metropolis of Mumbai to its hinterland cousin Navi Mumbai, marking a potential turning point for the country's financial capital that has struggled with crumbling infrastructure in recent years.

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The 17, 840 crore marvel built using enough steel to construct the Howrah bridge four times over and the Statue of Liberty six times-snakes through 16.5 kms of blue ocean water and about 5.3 km of land, and trims the travel time from south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai from two hours to about 20 minutes.

Formally named the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, it is the flagship project of a broader 30,500 crore infrastructure push, also opened by Modi, that hopes to rejuvenate the region, help it regain its competitive commercial edge and relieve some of the population pressure from India's most-populous city.

"Before 2014, mega scams were a topic of discussion while now mega projects getting completed is a topic of discussion...

Dreams are coming true 10 years later. The sea bridge is a reflection of Viksit Bharat (developed India)," he said at the public rally held at Ulve in Navi Mumbai.

The sleek six-lane bridge, which resembles an umbilical cord connecting the mega city to Navi Mumbai, is part of a transformative infrastructure facelift that aims to liberate Maharashtra's capital from decades of chronic underfunding, rickety public services and decaying road network, helping its 21 million residents live an easier life and eliminating the growth limitations that come from being a linear city.

In a day packed with ceremonies and visits in Maharashtra, the PM was accompanied by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as he inaugurated the Atal Setu, also known as the MumbaiTrans Harbour Link, in south Mumbai and drove to Navi Mumbai in a little over 20 minutes.