PM Modi inaugurated the Rs 17,840 crore Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, which will cut the distance between Mumbai and the satellite city of Navi Mumbai from some hours to 15-20 minutes, in the process boosting development in the region, which houses a mega port and also an upcoming international airport

The Atal Setu, which is the longest bridge and seabridge in the country, is 21.8 kilometre long, including a 16.5 portion over sea, and will reduce the distance from the metropolis to the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also cut travel time to major areas like Pune, the state's second largest city, and further to Goa and the rest of south India

As per some motorists, the Atal Setu will reduce the distance between Palasphe Phata in Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district and Mantralaya, the state secretariat in south Mumbai, by at least 5-6 kilometres as compared to the current route via Vashi Creek Bridge, which is around 53 kilometres, the PTI reported

It will save at least one hour of travel time, they said, though the government claimed it would be two hours

"Presently it takes more than two hours to reach Palasphe Phata from Mantralaya. Now motorists can cross MTHL in 20 minutes. But to reach there, one has to navigate P D'Mello road and cover further distance after going out of the bridge," motorist Pravin Shinde argued, according to the PTI

A senior RTO official said the MTHL will have an open tolling system due to which vehicles won't have to stop at the toll gates, a departure from the process of payment at booths on highways and other bridges