Mumbai: The work on the 22 kilometre long Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) has began with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) setting up a casting yard and constructing temporary jetties for movement of equipment needed for construction. The authority has already completed 80 per cent of the soil testing work for erecting the pillars to construct the bridge.
The planning authority has begun the work on the casting yard to come up at Sewri. A casting yard is a place where concrete structures like boundary walls, panels are casted and shifted to other yard. They are processed in the yard before shifting to the metro construction site. “Along with the work on the casting yard, we have also begun the work of constructing a jetty each on the Navi Mumbai and and Mumbai side of the bridge. These jetties will help in movement of the equipments needed for the construction of the bridge,” Sanjay Khandare, Additional Commissioner of MMRDA.
The authority has already completed 80 percent work on the geotechnical survey. The survey which began from January 15 onwards was necessary in order to assess the soil before the construction work begins for this project work. The survey is being conducted by a team of four contractors who have been finalized for MTHL project.
“During the survey, boats are used by contractors in order to venture into the sea in order to conduct the soil testing work. Currently, the land on which the piers are set to be erected is being assessed to know its feasibility. The soil will also be assessed for its bearing capacity before the construction work begins for MTHL begins,” said an MMRDA official.
A design based on the results of the geological survey would be prepared by the team of contractors. “The design would be prepared by the team of contractors. This particular design would be referred during the construction of MTHL. Once the survey is completed, piers will be erected for the construction work,” added the official.
THE MTHL BRIDGE will begin from Sewri, South Mumbai and cross Thane creek and would terminate at Chirle village located near Nhava Sheva (situated in Navi Mumbai).
ESTIMATED COST of MTHL project is estimated at Rs 22,000 crore.
JAPAN INTERNATION COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA) is set to provide Rs 17,843 crore as funds for the project The bridge will be open for public use by 2019.
