Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole inspected the Atal Setu bridge and pointed out cracks, highlighting corruption in the construction of the bridge that connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai. The ruling BJP and MMRDA clarified that the cracks were on the approach road, not the bridge itself. Despite this, Congress continued to allege corruption and risk to the bridge, leading to a political rift between the parties.
Atal Setu: A Tale of Political Rivalry and Infrastructure Integrity
Background
Atal Setu, formerly known as Bandra-Worli Sea Link, is an eight-lane bridge connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, India. Constructed over a period of 10 years, the bridge was inaugurated in 2009 and is a vital transportation link for the Mumbai metropolitan region.
Recent Political Controversy
In April 2023, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole inspected Atal Setu and claimed to have found cracks on the bridge. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of corruption in the construction of the bridge, alleging that substandard materials had been used.
However, the BJP and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is responsible for the bridge's maintenance, clarified that the cracks were only on the approach road to the bridge, not the bridge itself. They stated that the approach road is designed to absorb seismic shocks and that the cracks were a result of heavy rainfall and traffic.
Political Rift
Patole's allegations led to a political rift between the Congress and the BJP. The Congress continued to allege that the bridge was unsafe and that there was corruption involved in its construction. The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and accused the Congress of trying to create panic among the people.
Aftermath
Following the political controversy, the MSRDC commissioned an independent audit of the bridge. The audit, conducted by the IIT Madras, found no structural damage to the main bridge. The audit report confirmed that the cracks were only on the approach road and that the bridge was safe for use.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Are there structural cracks on Atal Setu? Answer: No, the independent audit confirmed that there are no structural cracks on the main bridge. The cracks are only on the approach road.
2. Is Atal Setu safe to use? Answer: Yes, the bridge is safe to use. The cracks on the approach road do not affect the structural integrity of the bridge.
3. Who accused the BJP of corruption in the construction of the bridge? Answer: Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress chief
4. What did the BJP and MSRDC say about the cracks? Answer: They said the cracks were on the approach road, not the bridge itself, and were caused by heavy rainfall and traffic.
5. What was the result of the independent audit of the bridge? Answer: The audit found no structural damage to the main bridge.
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