The political confrontation followed a landslide triggered by torrential rainfall on the recently inaugurated Rs 7,000-crore Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project, which disrupted traffic for nearly 18 hours. Opposition members accused the Mahayuti government of corruption and claimed the incident exposed serious structural deficiencies in the project.
Responding forcefully to the allegations, CM Fadnavis accused Opposition leaders of spreading falsehoods. Referring to the criticism over the project, he said the issue had been raised because of the heavy rainfall and alleged that the accusations were entirely fabricated.
The Chief Minister also blamed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government for attempting to halt the project. He told the Assembly that the former Chief Minister had prepared a two-page note listing 14 reasons why the Missing Link could not be constructed and had effectively closed the file. According to CM Fadnavis, the Mahayuti government revived the project with the determination to complete it despite the earlier objections.
Rejecting claims that the project had suffered structural damage or that public funds had been wasted, CM Fadnavis explained the circumstances behind the landslide. He stated that intense rainfall caused debris from the hillside to strike an outer arch, which collapsed under the impact. However, he emphasized that the primary structure remained completely intact without any cracks. He further informed the House that the tunnel's integrated safety systems functioned as designed and that heavy cranes reached the site within three minutes after the emergency system was activated.
The Chief Minister said emergency response teams removed the debris and restored traffic movement on the vital route within 18 hours, demonstrating the effectiveness of the project's safety and disaster response mechanisms.
Highlighting the significance of the infrastructure, CM Fadnavis reminded legislators that the route includes the tallest cable-stayed bridge in India and the world's widest twin tunnels, allowing motorists to bypass the hazardous and accident-prone older mountain pass.
Turning to criticism on social media, CM Fadnavis targeted what he described as paid online campaigners while asserting that the achievements of his government would outlast political attacks. He said he had become accustomed to personal abuse and considered himself "abuse-proof." He declared that years from now, those criticising him today would disappear from public memory, while the Connecting Link would continue to stand as a lasting achievement associated with him and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He also warned that while he was prepared to tolerate personal criticism, he would not tolerate attempts to defame Maharashtra.
Drawing a historical comparison, the Chief Minister referred to the construction of the Konkan Railway under the leadership of socialist leader Madhu Dandavate. He recalled that many people had argued the railway could never be built because of recurring landslides in the region. Despite those concerns, the project moved forward. CM Fadnavis noted that landslides occurred every year during the first 15 years after the railway became operational, but engineers gradually developed solutions to address the problem. He questioned what would have happened if the railway had never been built because of fear of natural disasters.
The Chief Minister also briefed the Assembly on the state's response to the ongoing monsoon emergency. He said Vasai-Virar received an extraordinary 772 millimetres of rainfall within 72 hours, causing widespread disruption to electricity supply and mobile communication networks. Disaster management authorities are working with power distribution and telecommunications agencies to restore essential services. He added that emergency financial assistance had been released immediately for the worst-affected districts in the Konkan region, including arrangements for free food distribution.
Highlighting financial reforms in urban governance, CM Fadnavis announced that shifting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's procurement process to the central Government e-Marketplace portal had resulted in the cancellation of inflated tenders worth Rs 1,032 crore, generating substantial savings for the public treasury.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister recited a celebrated Urdu couplet about courage and perseverance, stating that only those who ride into battle fall on the battlefield. He said true leadership is demonstrated by undertaking large-scale development projects despite political opposition and unforeseen challenges, reaffirming his government's commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure for Maharashtra.
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