Mumbai, July 3:- A political storm erupted in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday as Congress MLA Amin Patel voiced strong objections to the prolonged closure of the newly completed Carnac Bridge in South Mumbai, demanding its immediate opening to the public.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Patel, who represents the Mumbadevi constituency, expressed outrage over the inexplicable delay despite the structure being certified safe and ready. “I don’t understand why the inauguration is being held back. The bridge is fully complete, and its closure is causing severe traffic congestion, particularly toward Chembur and the eastern suburbs,” he said, pressing the state government for answers.
His concerns found support across party lines. UBT Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray joined the chorus, accusing the government of political theatrics. “The bridge has been ready for a week. Why is the government sitting on the inauguration? Today, our workers were even stopped by police from conducting a symbolic opening,” Thackeray told the media outside the Assembly.
The situation on-ground also reflected public impatience. Around 3:30 PM, MNS leader Arvind Gawde and a group of party workers attempted to remove barricades blocking access to the bridge. Police forces, already deployed in anticipation of such a move, quickly intervened to prevent escalation. While no violence was reported, the standoff added to the growing political and civic tension.
Interestingly, some pedestrians and two-wheeler riders have already begun using the bridge, disregarding the official closure, a sign of the everyday inconvenience commuters are facing. Local residents and commuters have voiced their frustration over the delays, accusing authorities of treating a critical traffic lifeline as a political showpiece.
Civic officials have confirmed that the bridge is structurally complete and safe for public use, but the official green signal is still pending—possibly due to scheduling of a formal inauguration ceremony by top government leadership.
In a city plagued by infrastructure bottlenecks and daily traffic nightmares, the Carnac Bridge delay has become a flashpoint for political rivalry and civic ire. As public pressure mounts, political leaders from opposition benches are calling the delay a “disservice to Mumbaikars,” demanding that the bridge be opened “not tomorrow, but today.”
