The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday reacted to the "cracks" found by Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole as he visited the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai. Posting a video statement on X, Kailash Ganatra, Project Head of Atal Setu, clarified that "cracks" are not on the bridge itself but on the approach road connecting MTHL from Ulwe towards Mumbai.
"It has been noticed that there is no crack in the main part of Atal Setu Bridge but rumours are being spread. Please don't believe the rumours. 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," Ganatra said.
Nana Patole Inspects 'Cracks' On Atal Setu
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Friday visited the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai to inspect cracks that have appeared on the bridge, ANI reported. The Setu was inaugurated earlier this year in January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Inspecting the Setu, Patole said, "The cracks denote that the lives of people are in danger".
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), aka the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, is India’s longest sea bridge covering 21.8 km out of which 16.5 km is over the sea. It witnesses the movement of more than 70,000 vehicles every day, as per a report by The Hindu.
The development comes days after a newly constructed bridge collapsed in the Araria district, leading to the suspension of three engineers from Bihar's rural works department on Wednesday. Anajabi Kumar, an assistant engineer responsible for executive duties, along with two junior engineers, Manish Kumar, and Birendra Ram, was suspended, as announced by Bihar State Rural Works Department minister Ashok Choudhary.
However, Patole has been in the spotlight lately. In a separate incident, a controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing an unidentified man, allegedly a Congress worker, washing Nana Patole's feet while he sat in a car. The video, taken in Akola district, showed Patole outdoors in muddy conditions following rain.
Responding to the controversy, Patole stated at a press conference that the worker was simply pouring water on his feet because there was no tap available. He clarified, "I come from a farming family and am used to having my feet covered in mud. So I asked a party worker to bring water. He poured it, and I washed my feet myself".
Patole had dismissed the controversy as needless and pointed out that other party workers were receiving similar treatment, such as head and leg massages, which were not highlighted. He accused the BJP of using the incident to misrepresent the situation.
BJP Mumbai's X handle criticised Patile, saying, that the Congress was insulting its workers. BJP spokesperson Shezad Poonawalla called it evidence of the Congress's "feudal" mindset, demanding apologies from Patole and the Congress party.