Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole alleges corrupition after cracks found in approach road to Atal Setu

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole launched a scathing attack on the BJP and and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena government and alleged that there was widespread corruption in the construction of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai after cracks emerged out in the approach road to the bridge.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole launched a scathing attack on the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena government and alleged that there was widespread corruption in the construction of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai after cracks emerged out in the approach road to the bridge. Nana Patole said, " I want to ask the govt a question. This year, Mumbai hasn't received the kind of rain it usually receives otherwise, the whole way would have been washed away. On the way without heavy rainfall, if there is a crack in 2-2.5-foot-long way, what can we make of it? they (govt) don't care about people dying. There is corruption in the construction of Atal Setu and the approach road. They are explaining it to hide the truth but they accepted that there is a crack."

He further said, "The bridge was inaugurated in 3 months and how did a crack develop so fast in the link road? If the government is lying to hide their sins, that is their problem, and then it is their issue." On Friday, Nana Patole claimed that there are cracks on Atal Setu and inspected the bridge.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said on Friday that minor cracks were found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu in Ulwe, which is not a part of the bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. MMRDA stated that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge.

MMRDA also labelled the news as 'rumours' and urged the citizens not to believe them. According to MMRDA, these minor cracks were already noticed at three places on Ramp No. 5, from Ulwe towards Mumbai, on Thursday during an inspection by the Operation and Maintenance Team of the Project and require immediate repair. Strabag, the contractor of Package 4 of the Atal Setu project, has started the repair work in the said area and the work will be completed within 24 hours without any disruption to the traffic on the bridge.

The official statement reads, "It has been noticed that there is no crack in the main part of Atal Setu Bridge but rumours are being spread in various media about it. 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." (ANI)

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