'ATAL SETU' THROWN OPEN TO PUBLIC

India's longest sea bridge built at a cost of around Rs 20,000 crore cuts travel time to 20 minutes from 2 hours. | After inauguration, PM Modi said the bridge is a glimpse of what developed India is going to be like.

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Prime Minister NarenP dra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India's longest bridge, in Maharashtra on Friday.

Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.

Atal Setu is also the longest sea bridge in the country.

It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India.

The foundation stone of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.

Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.

It 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.

It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the bridge symbolizes a developed India and offers a glimpse into the nation's future.

Speaking at a public event in Navi Mumbai, he described Atal Setu as a representation of the facilities, prosperity, speed, and progress that will characterize a developed India.