Responding to these allegations, the BJP countered that the observed cracks were on the approach road and not on the Atal Setu bridge itself.
Digital Desk: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole raised allegations of corruption regarding the Atul Setu sea bridge connecting south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai on Friday. He claimed that within months of its inauguration, cracks have appeared on the bridge, posing a threat to public safety. Patole personally inspected the bridge during the day and asserted that the construction quality was substandard, noting that a section of the road has sunk by one foot.
In response, the ruling BJP and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), responsible for the project, clarified that the reported cracks were not on the bridge itself but on the approach road from Ulwe in Navi Mumbai. The 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu', also known as the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), spans 21.8 km and includes a 16.5 km sea-link, costing Rs 17,840 crore and inaugurated in January of the current year.
Speaking to reporters, Patole accused the state government of rampant corruption, endangering lives with the premature deterioration of the bridge. He criticized the expenditure of Rs 18,000 crore on the MTHL despite its current condition, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, calling it an unfortunate instance of mismanagement.
Patole further alleged that environmental regulations were disregarded in the construction of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, resulting in the destruction of mangroves.
Responding to these allegations, the BJP countered that the observed cracks were on the approach road and not on the Atal Setu bridge itself.
Immediate repairs were initiated to address these issues without affecting traffic. The MMRDA supported this stance, clarifying that minor cracks had been detected on the road surface near the edges of Ramp 5 leading towards Mumbai. These cracks were identified as superficial and unrelated to structural integrity, with repair work already underway to rectify them within 24 hours.
Overall, while Patole emphasized concerns over infrastructure quality and environmental compliance, the BJP and MMRDA assured the public of prompt corrective actions to maintain the bridge's safety and operational integrity.
