3 roads...
The Versova-bandra sea link is a crucial component of the coastal road project, a plan to connect south Mumbai and the western suburbs through a series of reclaimed roads, tunnels and a sea links. Nine years ago, the city’s first sea link – the 5.6km Bandra Worli Sea Link – was opened to motorists. On Tuesday, MSRDC signed an agreement with a consortium of Reliance Infrastructure–astaldi to build the 17.17km VBSL from October. Reliance Infra CEO, Lalit Jalan, said the consortium was confident of finishing the work within the five-year period in the agreement. Reliance Infrastructureastaldi bagged the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for ₹6,993.99 crore. The VBSL will also have a 300-m long cable-stayed section, similar to the BWSL. The cablestayed portion will be towards the Versova-end of the sea link. The sea link will have three landing spots—one at Otter’s Club, Bandra; second at Juhu Koliwada and the third at Nana Nani Park at Versova. and one more was on its way, he added.
Opposition leaders lashed out alleging lack of maintenance and indifference on the part of the state government.
“It is a responsibility of PWD to conduct structural audit of bridges on a regular basis. It is clear that it was not being done. A government that cannot save people’s lives and property has no right to rule,” said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.
“PWD was in charge and it was indeed a question of lack of maintenance and monitoring. But this is not the hour to apportion blame,” said the Left leader in the state assembly, Sujan Chakraborty. The leader of the opposition in the assembly Abdul Mannan also suggested that the reason for the collapse appeared to be a maintenance issue.
“Five construction workers and two cooks were below the bridge. One of them made a telephone call and appealed for rescue,” a construction worker told TV channels.
As night fell and rain began, additional arrangements were made for rescue and the area was lit up. Cranes, iron cutters and drills were brought in to remove the debris. Nearby areas had been dug up for Metro rail construction and construction material were seen strewn all over the place.
Rail services below the bridge were stopped immediately apprehending the section on top of the tracks might cave in too. The tracks connecting Sealdah and Budge pass below the bridge.
In 2016, a 60-metre section of an under-construction flyover in north Kolkata’s Girish Park area had collapsed, killing 27 people and injuring 90 others.
(With agency inputs)
it showed the real “evil face” of the BJP. “Kadam is openly promising youths to kidnap girls for them. In Kadam, the “evil face” (Ravan face) of the BJP has come out before the people. From today, we will rename him Ravan Kadam, instead of Ram Kadam.”
BJP ally Shiv Sena also slammed Kadam , and asked him to apologise. The party also asked Fadnavis, who heads the state’s home department, what action he would take against the MLA for making a statement that “threatens the safety of girls”.
Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said on Twitter : “One BJP MLA has offered from a stage to help boys kidnap girls and marry them even against the will of the girls. I guess he believes marriage is like forming a govt. Ashamed and disgraced that he sits in the legislative assembly of Maharashtraa land of culture & women liberty. Not just an outright apology from him, but I’d want to know from the Home Minister of Maharashtra what action will be taken for openly making such statements that threaten the safety of girls and offering safety to those wanting to kidnap them.”
Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe added, “His name is Ram and his words are like Ravan. He should apologise to the women of the state.”
Jyoti Mhapsekar, founder president, Stree Multi Sangathana, a women’s rights group, said the remarks were derogatory and irresponsible. “He (Kadam) should immediately apologise.”