Mumbai: Senior Congress spokesperson and architect Anant Gadgil has demanded an independent third-party technical and financial audit of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link project, alleging that the recent incident inside the tunnel has exposed serious concerns over construction quality and project execution.
In a statement issued on Monday, Gadgil said that whenever a tunnel is excavated through hilly terrain, its inner surface is reinforced with thick concrete lining to ensure structural stability. If this lining is poorly designed or executed with substandard quality, heavy monsoon seepage can weaken the structure and lead to failure.
Referring to photographs circulating on social media, Gadgil claimed that the recent incident appears to indicate precisely such a possibility and warrants an immediate technical investigation.
Drawing comparisons with international practices, Gadgil said that under European standards, newly constructed tunnels are generally subjected to testing and observation for 10 to 12 months before being opened to the public. During this period, deficiencies are identified and rectified to ensure complete operational safety.
He alleged that the ruling alliance government inaugurated the Missing Link project in haste without completing adequate safety assessments, resulting in the present situation. According to Gadgil, several taxi drivers who frequently travel between Mumbai and Pune are now reluctant to use the tunnel due to safety concerns.
Questioning the engineering design, Gadgil also argued that the alignment should have incorporated more natural openings or escape points along the approximately 9–10 km stretch to improve safety.
He further sought a detailed public disclosure of the project’s expenditure. While reports suggest that the 9–10 km project has cost around ₹12,000–13,000 crore, Gadgil said the government should publish a complete cost break-up so that the public can assess whether taxpayers’ money has been spent efficiently.
Recalling his own experience, Gadgil said that after travelling through the Missing Link shortly after its inauguration, he had expressed concerns about its safety to journalists in the Mantralaya press room. Taking a political swipe at the government, he remarked that Maharashtra does not need a “Gujarat model of development” if it compromises public safety.
The state government has not yet responded to Gadgil’s allegations.
