Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addresses a debate in the Legislative Assembly, defending the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s “Missing Link” project amid political criticism following a landslide. He says the recent disruption followed heavy rainfall and explains the event as mountain debris falling onto an outer arch, which he says broke under impact, while the main structure remains without cracks. He also states that the tunnel’s integrated safety systems worked and that emergency crews arrived quickly after the emergency alert was triggered.
Fadnavis rejects opposition allegations of structural failure and misuse of public money, calling the criticism exaggerated and alleging misinformation campaigns on social media. He says the government seeks expert input, including recommendations from IIT Bombay, and will undertake additional slope-stabilisation measures such as protective wire mesh and reinforcement at vulnerable locations. He also links the project’s challenges to past infrastructure efforts, citing the Konkan Railway, and argues that engineering solutions address natural hazards over time.
According to the reports, the project—13.3 km and inaugurated on May 1—was closed for more than 18 hours but reopened after debris clearance. The CM also outlines broader monsoon response measures for parts of Maharashtra and mentions savings from cancelling inflated municipal tenders through the GeM portal.
