Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mounted a strong defence of the Rs 7,000-crore Mumbai-Pune Missing Link expressway on Wednesday, hitting back at opposition allegations of corruption and structural failure after a rain-triggered landslide hit the newly opened project.
Responding to the criticism in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Fadnavis alleged that some social media users were deliberately targeting the project and his government. Referring to online criticism, he said, "People whom even a dog wouldn't acknowledge are now taking to social media to hurl abuses at everyone, including the Chief Minister." His remarks came amid the circulation of videos purportedly showing damage to the Mumbai-Pune 'Missing Link' following heavy rainfall in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis further alleged that some online posts were financially motivated, saying, "Some hired stooges were writing about the 'missing link' on social media in exchange for money. I want to tell them: if you insult Maharashtra, we will not spare you."
Heavy monsoon rain caused a hill slope collapse on the Missing Link section near the Khandala exit on July 6, forcing the complete closure of the Mumbai-bound carriageway. No casualties were reported, and traffic was restored within roughly 18 hours, according to the state's road development corporation. The incident, however, triggered a political storm, with the opposition accusing the Mahayuti government of corruption and cutting corners on the flagship infrastructure project.
To make his case, Fadnavis invoked the Konkan Railway, recalling that the project faced similar landslide-related scepticism when it was first proposed by socialist leader Madhu Dandavate, and continued to see yearly landslides for 15 years after opening before engineering fixes resolved the problem. He used the comparison to argue that occasional infrastructure failures should not derail ambitious projects.
Fadnavis also briefed the House on the state's monsoon response, saying emergency funds had been released after heavy rainfall disrupted power and communication services in parts of the Konkan region. He also said Mumbai's shift to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal had helped cancel inflated tenders worth ₹1,032 crore.
The debate comes as Maharashtra's infrastructure projects face increased scrutiny during the monsoon, with the state government continuing to defend the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link as a key infrastructure initiative.