Mumbai Trans Harbour Link – A marvel by Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

A marvel that is the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link was inaugurated on January 12th, 2024. The longest sea bridge in India and the 13th longest sea bridge in the world, it is a significant addition to the city of Mumbai.
Here is some trivia behind this engineering marvel.

Design & Engineering:

A new technology called Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) was used instead of the most common type of bridge, the cable stay, so that it doesn’t interfere with the flying pattern of the flamingos. So instead of solid steel beams, a steel deck is used for strength and steel ribs are used to keep the structure light.

Love from Japan:

Special imported steel sections from Japan were used to build the bridge. Each section was manufactured, assembled and individually tested in Japan and was then brought to India. The specialty of these sections is that it can large loads, making the bridge extremely safe even under duress.

Earthquake Resistant:

The bridge has been designed to handle 1.5 times the most intense earthquake that is likely to take place in the region. Along with that, MTHL has been designed to stand wind speeds of 150 KMPH making it one of the safest bridges in the world even under adverse weather conditions.

Minimizing Environmental Impact:

To minimize the environmental impact of the bridge, the government set aside a Rs 330 crore to deal with the changes. This includes plantation of mangroves, the relocation of the trees, air pollution monitoring, water pollution monitoring and monitoring of flamingos for 10 years. Along with that, a fisherman compensation policy was worked out to minimize the effect on their livelihood.