Cracks spotted on Mumbai’s Atal Setu, alleges Congress; BJP hits back saying ‘not part of main bridge’
Atal Setu
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu or the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India’s longest sea bridge, is in hot water and under scrutiny after cracks reportedly cropped up on it just over five months after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Friday (June 21), Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole visited the site to inspect what appeared to be cracks on the bridge’s tar road exit towards Ulwe in Navi Mumbai.
"I have come here to show you that what we are saying is not just an allegation. The government is portraying that they are working for the people, but you can see the corruption here. They are filling their pockets, but who gave them the right to put people’s lives in danger? People should plan how to remove this corrupt government," Patole asserted.
The Congress also shared a photo of PM Modi from the inauguration day, accusing the government of corruption over the cracks on the newly inaugurated bridge built at a cost of Rs 18,000 crores ($2.5 billion).
The Atal Setu is a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How fast can the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet really fly?
)
Did China ask its people 'not to respond to aliens'? Origin of bizarre claim on social media
)
MS Dhoni-CSK Fallout? Report claims failed stake sale talks triggered rift
)
Scientists reveal the SAFEST COUNTRY when catastrophe strikes the planet
)
Serial killer on the loose in South Korea's Jeju Island? Fourth body found in three days as more than a dozen people go missing
)
2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods
)
Trump once again claims without him there would be ‘no Israel right now’
)
Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, Bitkom report reveals
)
Blake Lively wins partial legal fee from Justin Baldoni after $8M request
)
Why is Pakistan deploying Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones near India border?
)
'OH MY GOD! We've found other agents!': Investigators discover not one or two, almost 700 OpenAI AI agents went rogue, hacked Hugging Face
)
Lunar eclipse 2026: India timings, places to see and more. August Blood moon factsheet
)
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on global outreach tour
)
Both pilots killed as training aircraft crashes in Lucknow – What we know
)
16-year-old charged with preparing terror attack on kindergarten in Norway
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How the S-400 protects itself from enemy attacks
)
Nepal floods: Over 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid
)
India's multi-layered watch: The new surveillance war
)
5 doomsday planes spotted in US skies hours after CIA director's secret trip to Russia
)
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to finally face trial in 2028, nearly 27 years after horrific attacks
)
Islamabad hospital fire: What we know about one of the biggest facility that housed Imran Khan
)
Workers run for life while filming Nepal flash flood: Scary new visuals emerge from Rasuwa
)
Russian military planes enter South Korean air defence zone amid rising tensions with North Korea: What's happening
)
Ron Weasley Is Back! Rupert Grint set to return to Harry Potter universe on Broadway
)
400-year-old 'vampire' grave in Poland reveals non-existent genetic lineage
)
Dolly Parton, global icon and queen of country music, dies at 80
)
Nepal flash floods: Kailash Mansarovar yatra affected, close to 400 pilgrims out of contact
)
'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate
)
Man arrested near US Capitol with guillotine in pickup truck: What happened?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI cockpit is painted bright turquoise green
Maharashtra government’s response
Responding to the allegations, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said, “Minor cracks have been found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu. The said footpath is not a part of the main bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. It is also very important to note that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge.”
Lashing out at the Congress, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said, "...One thing is clear- the Congress party has made a long term plan to create a rift with the help of lies. Talks of constitutional amendments during elections, unlocking of EVMs through phone after elections and now such lies... Only the people of the country will defeat this 'darar' (crack) plan and the corrupt behaviour of Congress..."
Meanwhile, repair works were carried out soon following the political row that ensued over cracks on Atal Setu. A video showed a worker pouring tar on the road, while another section is seen covered with gravel.
(With inputs from agencies)