Video: Cracks Develop on Atal Setu Within 5 Months of Inauguration, Politics Erupts

Mumbai: Less than six months after its inauguration, cracks have appeared on the Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) known as 'Atal Setu,' which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, 2024. Several videos of the cracks in the sea bridge which are close to 2-3 feet long have surfaced on social media. 

The cracks have reportedly appeared on the service road linking the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Seva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai to the city. This service road serves as the temporary connection between the Atal Setu and the city.

Following reports of the cracks, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole inspected the site and voiced his concerns, stressing that it poses a potential threat to public safety.

Patole, who inspected the bridge during the day, claimed that the construction quality of the bridge was poor and that a portion of the road has caved in by one foot.

 He said, "There is corruption in the whole state. We will present a lot of examples of corruption (in the Vidhan Sabha). Atal Bihari Bajpayee is respected by the people of India. But the BJP does not hesitate while doing corruption in his name. Maharashtra has become an ATM for Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. So, they praise Maharashtra falsely."

"A portion of the Atal Setu bridge has developed cracks within three months of the inauguration and a half-a-kilometre-long stretch of the road near Navi Mumbai has caved in by a foot. The state has spent Rs 18,000 crore for the MTHL," he said.

However, the ruling BJP as well as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the nodal agency for the project, said that the cracks were not on the bridge itself but on the approach road from Ulwe in Navi Mumbai.

Reacting to the Congress leader's allegations, BJP said on X that the cracks seen are not on Atal Setu but on the road leading to the bridge.

Immediate repair works were undertaken, it said.

"Stop maligning Atal Setu," it said.

Cracks are minor: MMRDA

The MMRDA issued a statement saying, "There have been rumours circulating about cracks on the MTHL bridge. We want to clarify that these cracks are not on the bridge itself but on the approach road connecting the MTHL from Ulwe towards Mumbai." During an inspection by the Operation and Maintenance team on June 20, 2024, minor cracks were found on the road surface near the edges at three locations on Ramp 5 (the ramp towards Mumbai), it said.

"These cracks are minor and are located along the edge of the road. It is important to note that these cracks are not due to any structural defects. They are minor longitudinal cracks in the asphalt pavement, which can be effectively repaired without impacting the life or performance of the pavement," it said.

The contractor has already commenced the repair work, which will be completed within 24 hours. This work is being carried out without causing any disruption to traffic, the agency added. 

India’s longest sea bridge

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu is India’s longest sea bridge, spanning 21.8 km, with 16.5 km of it extending over the sea. It serves as a vital route, accommodating the movement of over 70,000 vehicles daily. The Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.