Congress declares Atal Bridge open, protesting delay in inauguration

Referring to the controversy over the AMC mulling an entry fee for bridge users, Pathan questioned the discussion over it for months. “They have only one agenda. Elections are due in the state and in two months, the model code of conduct will come into force… they want to open it before that and use it for the election campaign.”

The Congress move, however, has not gone down well with the authorities. Ahmedabad Mayor Kiritkumar Parmar said, “This was no official inauguration. No one from the corporation knew about it. A case should have been filed on this… The work on the bridge has just been completed. It will be officially inaugurated.” He added that some work is still pending and a decision on inauguration would be taken by the board.

Calling Ahmedabad Khadabad (city of potholes), Manish Doshi, chief spokesperson of Gujarat Congress, said, “The bridge has been made using the tax paid by the public and for the convenience of the public… This was Congress’s democratic effort to awaken those sleeping in the government.”