Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's longest sea bridge the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), named Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewee-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu on Friday in Mumbai. He also laid foundation stone for multiple developmental projects worth Rs 30,500 crore in Mumbai.
Ahead of the Atal Setu inauguration, PM Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Maharashtra’s Nashik today, where he offered prayers at Ramkund and performed pooja at Shree Kalaram Mandir.
After paying floral tributes to Swami Vivekanand on his birth anniversary in Nashik, PM Modi also inaugurated the 27th National Youth Festival in Nashik.
PM Modi inaugurates Mumbai Trans Harbour Link
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for a 9.2 km underground road tunnel linking the Eastern Freeway in eastern Mumbai to Marine Drive in south Mumbai, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs 8700 crore.
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The Atal Setu is India's longest bridge, stretching a whopping 21.8 kilometres, with a big part of it, around 16.5 kilometres, going over the sea. This massive bridge is like a giant road that is supposed to make it quicker to get from the city to the Navi Mumbai International Airport. It also cuts down travel time to important places like Pune, the state's second-biggest city, and makes it easier to reach Goa and other spots in the south of India.
This bridge is like a superhighway that links Mumbai Port in the south of the city to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which is a really important place for trade. It's like building a giant road to make it faster and simpler for things to move around.
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Other inaugurations by PM Modi
PM Modi also opened the Kharkopar-Uran stretch of the Belapur-Seawoods-Uran suburban corridor, which is a 14.60-kilometre-long road out of the overall 27-kilometre stretch. This corridor cost Rs 2973.35 crore, with Maharashtra government's planning authority CIDCO and the Railways sharing the expenses in a 67-33 ratio, respectively.
PM has put the Digha Gaon railway line on the Thane-Vashi transharbour line into service aiming to ease congestion at Thane and Airoli stations.
He dedicated the 6th line between Khar and Goregaon, a stretch of 8.8 kilometres that cost Rs 425 crore. This new line, completed in November 2023, will separate long-distance and suburban trains on Western Railway's Mumbai division.
PM Modi also inaugurated the first phase of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project, costing Rs 1,975 crore. This project will significantly boost the water supply in Thane and Palghar districts, serving a population of 14 lakh, as per reports.
Additionally, PM Modi opened the 'Bharat Ratnam' (Mega Common Facilitation Centre) for the gems and jewellery sector at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone- Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ SEZ) in Mumbai. It's the first of its kind in India, equipped with state-of-the-art machines, including 3D metal printing. Bharat Ratnam will reportedly host a training school for skilling the workforce of this sector, including specially-abled students.
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The PM inaugurated the New Enterprises and Services Tower (NEST)-01 at SEEPZ-SEZ, designed primarily for gem and jewellery units, relocating from the existing Standard Design Factory-I. The new tower is designed for large-scale production based on industry demand.
Roadshow in Nashik
During his roadshow from Hotel Mirchi Chowk, PM Modi was accompanied by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar amongst several others.
Thousands of people thronged the roadshow route to welcome the PM. Various artists and special groups like the ones with the famous ‘Nashik Dhol’ and tribals held performances during the event.
The nearly 35-minute-long roadshow concluded at Sant Janardan Swami Maharaj Chowk after covering more than 2 kilometres.
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After the roadshow, Modi reached Ramkund, located on the bank of Godavari river, where he was offered a traditional ‘pagdi’ (turban) by the Nashik Purohit Sangh president Satish Shukla.
PM Modi mops floor at Shree Kalaram Temple
Prime Minister Narendra Modi actively participated in the Swachhata Abhiyan (cleanliness drive) earlier today at the revered Shree Kalaram Temple.
PM Modi emphasized the significance of maintaining cleanliness and extended his appeal to citizens across the nation to engage in similar initiatives at temples.
