Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday announced that Versova–Bandra Sea Link will be named Veer Savarkar Setu and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link to be renamed Atal Bihari Vajpayee Smruti Nhava Sheva Atal Setu.

The decision by the state government came almost a month after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced that the bridge would be renamed after Savarkar.

Other than this, the Maharashtra cabinet also decided to expand the limit of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana from ₹2 lakhs to ₹5 lakhs.

“We've renamed Versova–Bandra Sea Link as Veer Savarkar Setu and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link renamed as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Smruti Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. We've also taken a big decision to increase the limit of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and it will be given to all people of the state,” said Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

The Versova Bandra Sea Link spans over 5.6 kilometers and was credited with having redefined the perennial traffic congestion that often plagued the city. Commuters can now traverse the distance between Versova and Bandra in a matter of minutes, compared to the hours spent navigating congested roads in the past.

The Bandra-Versova Sealink is being built by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) at a cost of Rs 11,332 crore. The sea link that will connect Bandra with Versova is expected to be completed by December 2026.

The work of MTHL, being built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is 95 percent complete. It will be opened for traffic by December 2023.

Among other important decisions, the cabinet granted permission to the expenditure of Rs 210 crore to start affordable dispensaries with the name Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapala Dawakhana at 700 places across the state.

Other than the extension of Jan Arogya Yojana, the state cabinet gave a green nod to investment proposals worth ₹40,000 crores. The recent decision to invest will help the state in generating 1,20,00 jobs, claimed CM Shinde. He also said that the state has again become number 1 in terms of foreign direct investment.

The decision to rename the landmark serves as a tribute to the extraordinary legacies of Veer Savarkar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. By honouring these two eminent figures, their invaluable contributions to the country's history and development are acknowledged and commemorated.

Image source: PTI