Dombivli News: The Palava flyover on Kalyan-Shil Road in Dombivli was inaugurated today (Friday, 4th July). Since this bridge is important for local traffic, it was expected to ease commuters’ struggles. However, things didn’t go as planned.
The newly inaugurated Palava bridge had to be shut down just hours after opening. The incident triggered a political storm, bringing the two Shiv Sena factions face-to-face. Former MNS MLA Raju Patil also jumped into the matter, criticizing the situation.
What Happened?
The Palava flyover was built to ease traffic congestion at Palava Junction. The construction was carried out by a private contractor through the MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation). The bridge has two lanes—one of which has been completed, while work on the second lane is ongoing.
According to Shinde faction MLA Rajesh More, traffic was expected to begin on one lane by the end of June. However, members of the Thackeray faction and MNS staged a protest on the bridge, opposing the decision to open it prematurely.
Today, in the presence of MLA Rajesh More, District Chief Gopal Ladke, and Deputy District Chief Rajesh Kadam (all from the Shinde faction), the Palava bridge was opened for traffic. But just a few hours later, the bridge had to be shut down again.
Thackeray faction’s Deputy District Chief Rahul Bhagat claimed that vehicles were slipping on the surface. He alleged that the bridge was rushed open even though the work wasn’t fully completed. MNS leader Raju Patil also took to Twitter, stating that the bridge was of poor quality and criticized the ruling party for negligence.
Bridge Reopened in the Evening
After a day full of political drama, the bridge was reopened on Friday evening. However, the episode highlighted administrative carelessness. In the meantime, commuters had to suffer due to the chaos.
Criminal Complaint to Be Filed
Thackeray faction’s Kalyan District Chief Dipesh Mhatre announced that they would be filing a criminal complaint. In a tweet, he said:
“The Palava bridge was opened hastily even though the work wasn’t completed… Two-wheeler riders fell, accidents occurred, and the bridge was shut down in just two hours! Shiv Sainiks will submit a complaint at the Manpada Police Station. Those who play with people’s lives won’t be forgiven!”
Shinde Faction Responds
Responding to the criticism from the Thackeray faction and MNS, Shinde faction’s Deputy District Chief Rajesh Kadam said:
“The same people who are criticizing us today were MLAs when the bridge construction was happening near their homes—why didn’t they stop it then? For the safety of motorists, the bridge was closed temporarily.”
Source:- https://marathi.ndtv.com/cities/dombivli-palava-bridge-closed-after-inauguration-what-went-wrong-and-what-are-the-reasons-behind-the-closure-8825642
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