Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in India has invited tenders for the Rs88bn ($1.67bn) Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) that will connect Sewri to Nhava Sheva port.

The MTHL will span 22km with a 16.5km eight-lane bridge across Mumbai harbour and a 5.5km viaduct on the Sewri and Nhava sides.

Interchanges will be built at Sewri to link to Eastern Freeway and at Chirle to connect to National Highway 4B to alleviate traffic congestion in Mumbai.

The project will be implemented through a public-private partnership on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis.

In August, MMRDA carried out a techno-economic feasibility study for the project in collaboration with Arup Consulting Engineers and KPMG.

MMRDA will shortlist the bidders by March 2012 and the contract will be awarded by September 2012.