The newly constructed Atal Setu bridge in Mumbai, touted as India's longest sea bridge, has been under scrutiny as cracks have appeared on the approach road just six months after its opening. While opposition leaders accuse the government of corruption, authorities claim the cracks are minor and not structural. With repairs underway and political controversy brewing, questions arise about the quality of construction and maintenance of this engineering marvel.
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.
The Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole visited the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai to inspect cracks that have appeared on the bridge. The bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, has been used by more than 70,000 vehicles daily. The inspection by the Congress chief is seen as a political move, as the state gears up for upcoming elections. The development comes amid other controversies surrounding Patole and the Congress party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the longest sea bridge in India, connecting South Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. The 21.8 km Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu is a reflection of a changed India, said Modi, noting that the bridge was completed despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that earlier mega projects would get stalled and people had given up hope that they would ever be completed, but now mega projects getting completed is a topic of discussion. The bridge is part of the government's resolve to make India a developed country and will boost Maharashtra's economy in the years to come.
- The Shiv Sena (UBT) criticized Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision to recognize CM Eknath Shinde's faction as the real Shiv Sena, accusing him of blackening democracy.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, the 21.8-kilometer-long bridge connecting Mumbai to Pune and the under-construction Navi Mumbai Airport, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Built at a cost of Rs 21,200 crore, the bridge will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, reducing travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India from two hours to 15-20 minutes.