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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Woman’s video of crossing busy Bengaluru road goes viral, calls it "negotiating with destiny"
Bengaluru: A short Instagram video showing a foreign woman attempting to cross a busy road in Bengaluru has gone viral, drawing humour, relatability and renewed discussion on pedestrian safety in Indian cities.
According to NDTV, the video, shared by Instagram user Ines Faria, shows her and a foreign friend cautiously trying to cross a congested street as vehicles continue to move around them.
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The text on the video reads, “Trying to cross a road in India be like,” which resonated with viewers who have faced similar situations.
In her post, Faria summed up the experience with a humorous line: “In India you don't cross the road. You negotiate with destiny.”
The video has been widely shared on social media, with users relating to the challenges of navigating busy city streets.
Comments on the post included remarks such as “So much traffic, no walkways” and “This is so relatable.”
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