Mumbai: People have been reluctant to use the Shivri – Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link Road, aka Atal Setu, even one year after it was opened. The road directly connected to the Mumbai – Pune expressway significantly lowers the travelling time from Mumbai to Pune. However, official reports say that only 82.81 lakh vehicles travelled on the high-tech road last year, reports Manorama Online. Apparently, commoners refuse to take this sea link due to the high toll rate.

Authorities hope...
The authorities hope that the number of vehicles in this route will increase when the new airport in Navi Mumbai is opened. Most vehicles that used this road were cars – 77,05,497, while 99,356 mini buses took this route. Up to 75,000 vehicles will likely pass through this road in a day when the airport is opened at Navi Mumbai. Last year, more than four lakh vehicles had used this road within 16 days after its inauguration on January 12.

Interest diminished with time
Though many people were keen to explore the route and click pictures in its initial days, the interest gradually diminished. The 22-kilometre-long sea link road connects Shivri in Mumbai to Navseva in Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, around 16.5 kilometres of the bridge runs across the sea. The authorities had hoped that more people would choose this route as the travelling time from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai was reduced from 1.5 hours to 20 minutes. However, only the affluent can use this road due to the high toll rate. Besides, the Mumbai – Goa highway and JNPT harbour are easily accessible. 

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