Cracks seen on Atal Setu sea bridge just months after inauguration, alleges Patole; cries corruption
Mumbai, Jun 21: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Friday alleged corruption in the construction of the Atul Setu sea bridge connecting south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, saying that cracks have appeared on it within months of inauguration, posing a threat to people's lives.
Patole, who inspected the bridge during the day, claimed that the construction quality of the bridge was poor and that a portion of the road has caved in by one foot.
However, the ruling BJP as well as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the nodal agency for the project, said that the 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), that connects south Mumbai with the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, was inaugurated in January this year. Built at a cost of Rs 17,840 crore, this six-lane bridge is 21.8 km long with a 16.5 km sea-link.
Talking to reporters, Patole alleged that the state government has crossed all limits of corruption and put people's lives at risk.
"A portion of the Atal Setu bridge has developed cracks within three months of the inauguration and a half-a-kilometre-long stretch of the road near Navi Mumbai has caved in by a foot. The state has spent Rs 18,000 crore for the MTHL," he said.
"The bridge has been named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and yet the government indulged in corruption. This is very unfortunate," he said.
Patole also claimed that all environmental norms have been set aside for the Navi Mumbai International Airport as mangroves have been destroyed.
Reacting to the Congress leader's allegations, BJP said on X that the cracks seen are not on Atal Setu but on the road leading to the bridge.
Immediate repair works were undertaken, it said.
"Stop maligning Atal Setu," it said.
The MMRDA issued a statement saying, "There have been rumours circulating about cracks on the MTHL bridge. We want to clarify that these cracks are not on the bridge itself but on the approach road connecting the MTHL from Ulwe towards Mumbai."
During an inspection by the Operation and Maintenance team on June 20, 2024, minor cracks were found on the road surface near the edges at three locations on Ramp 5 (the ramp towards Mumbai), it said.
"These cracks are minor and are located along the edge of the road. It is important to note that these cracks are not due to any structural defects. They are minor longitudinal cracks in the asphalt pavement, which can be effectively repaired without impacting the life or performance of the pavement," it said.
The contractor has already commenced the repair work, which will be completed within 24 hours. This work is being carried out without causing any disruption to traffic, the agency added.
Viral | Atal Setu inaugurated by PM in January this year has developed cracks & fissures in the very first rainfall it faced, Lokshahi channel exposes. pic.twitter.com/M4uvPT30rD
— MUMBAI NEWS (@Mumbaikhabar9) June 21, 2024
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Karnataka poised to lead India's space tech growth: Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka is well-positioned to power India’s next phase of growth in the global space economy, state IT Minister Priyank Kharge said on Monday.
He added that the Space Tech Policy 2025-2030 marks a major step towards positioning the state as India’s leading space technology hub.
The policy aims to help Karnataka capture 50 per cent of the national space technology market and 5 per cent of the global space economy by 2034, Priyank said.
Outlining the vision behind the policy, which was announced last month during the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Priyank stated that the state has set clear and measurable goals to accelerate growth in the space sector.
"Through this policy, Karnataka aims to mobilise investments of USD 5 billion, support over 500 space start-ups and MSMEs, create more than 50,000 high-skill jobs, and enable companies in the state to design and launch over 50 satellites in the coming years," he said, in a statement.
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Reiterating Bengaluru’s legacy as India’s technology and innovation capital, the minister noted that the city has consistently transformed innovative ideas into nationally and globally significant missions.
"From satellites and aerospace to robotics and deep tech, Bengaluru has been the place where India’s global aspirations take shape. This ecosystem has been built over decades with the establishment of institutions such as HAL, NAL, and ISRO," he said.
The minister added that the Space Tech Policy 2025-2030 represents the next phase of Karnataka’s technology-led growth.
"The policy is designed to strengthen the state’s leadership across both upstream space technologies—covering deep-tech research, manufacturing, and core systems—and downstream innovation, where space-based applications are developed to address real-world challenges," he said.
According to the statement, key focus areas under the policy include supporting companies engaged in next-generation space capabilities such as space technology manufacturing, deftronics, and advanced wireless communications for defence and strategic applications.
To enable this, the state will establish dedicated space manufacturing clusters, develop common testing and validation facilities, and leverage Karnataka’s strong institutional linkages with organisations such as ISRO and DRDO.
"With this policy, Karnataka will create an ecosystem where innovation, manufacturing, and services companies in the sector can thrive," Priyank said.
"The state is now well-positioned to power India’s next phase of growth in the global space economy," he added.
