Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday strongly defended the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project in the Legislative Assembly, rejecting allegations of corruption and structural failure after a recent landslide disrupted traffic on the newly inaugurated route. Accusing the Opposition of spreading misinformation, Fadnavis said criticism of him was acceptable but attempts to tarnish Maharashtra’s reputation would not be tolerated.
Speaking during a debate on the development of Mumbai and its satellite cities under Rule 293, the Chief Minister also highlighted the engineering features of the project, outlined the government’s disaster response during the recent heavy rains and announced savings of more than ₹1,000 crore through reforms in civic procurement.
CM Rejects Corruption Allegations Over Missing Link
The political controversy erupted after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide near the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, leading to the temporary closure of the route for around 18 hours.
Responding to Opposition criticism, Fadnavis dismissed allegations that the incident exposed corruption or poor construction quality. He alleged that false narratives were being spread despite the project remaining structurally safe.
According to the Chief Minister, the landslide caused mountain debris to strike an outer arch of the structure, while the main bridge and tunnel remained unaffected. He said the tunnel’s integrated safety systems functioned as designed and emergency response teams cleared the debris before reopening the route within 18 hours.
‘Previous Government Shelved the Project’
Fadnavis also accused the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of attempting to abandon the Missing Link project.
He claimed the earlier administration had cited multiple reasons for not proceeding with the infrastructure project, but the present Mahayuti government revived it and ensured its completion.
The Chief Minister described the route as a landmark infrastructure project featuring India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge and among the world’s widest twin road tunnels, aimed at bypassing the accident-prone old ghat section.
‘I Am Abuse-Proof,’ Says Fadnavis
Taking aim at criticism on social media, Fadnavis said he had grown accustomed to personal attacks and insisted that infrastructure projects would ultimately be remembered more than political controversies.
He remarked that while people were free to criticise him, he would strongly oppose any attempt to damage Maharashtra’s image. He also expressed confidence that the Missing Link project would remain a lasting symbol of the state’s development.
Konkan Railway Example Cited
Drawing parallels with the Konkan Railway, the Chief Minister said major infrastructure projects often face natural challenges during their early years.
He recalled that landslides were common after the railway became operational, but engineering improvements gradually addressed the issues. According to Fadnavis, abandoning ambitious projects out of fear would have prevented several transformative developments in the country.
Monsoon Relief and Procurement Savings
The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that districts in the Konkan region had witnessed exceptionally heavy rainfall, with Vasai-Virar receiving over 770 mm of rain within 72 hours.
He said emergency funds had been released to affected districts while government agencies were working to restore electricity and telecom services disrupted by the rains. Relief measures, including free food distribution, have also been initiated in the worst-hit areas.
Fadnavis further announced that migrating the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s procurement system to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal had resulted in the cancellation of inflated tenders worth ₹1,032 crore, leading to significant savings for the public exchequer.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say about the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link landslide?
Fadnavis said the landslide damaged only an outer arch after mountain debris fell during heavy rainfall and maintained that the bridge and tunnel remained structurally safe.
Why did the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link become controversial?
The project came under scrutiny after a landslide temporarily closed the route, prompting the Opposition to allege corruption and construction flaws.
How long was the Missing Link closed after the landslide?
According to the Chief Minister, the route was reopened approximately 18 hours after emergency teams cleared the debris.
What engineering features did Fadnavis highlight?
He said the project includes India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge and one of the world’s widest twin road tunnels.
What savings did the Maharashtra government announce?
Fadnavis said shifting BMC procurement to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal resulted in the cancellation of inflated tenders worth ₹1,032 crore.
