Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Opposition parties have criticised the state government over the accident on the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, stating that the flawed design of the project was the reason for such accidents and questioned the government on whether it would take action against people who designed the project.
“When I travelled on this road, I spoke to many people about it. They told me that the road was greatly discussed and praised in Maharashtra but it is witnessing accidents continuously. They said that the construction of this road may not be scientific as a result of which people are losing lives,” NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Sunday.
Taking a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who planned the road during his tenure as the Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, Pawar, without taking names, said, “The locals told me that if someone loses life in an accident on the new road, then the village people say that the deceased person has become “Devendra-wasi”. People are blaming those who were responsible in decision making and planning of this road.”
Pawar said that announcing Rs 5 lakh as compensation will not solve the problem but a team of road experts across the state should be formed.
“The team should inspect the road, find out the fault, find out the reasons of that fault and then steps should be taken to rectify it,” he said, adding that Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has tried to shift the blame on others.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the flawed structure of the road and human error are the reasons behind consecutive accidents on Samruddhi Expressway and despite repeated demands from the Opposition no action has been taken yet.
“Ever since the launch of the Samruddhi Expressway, the road has witnessed a number of accidents and innocent citizens have lost their lives. The opposition has been demanding action on rectifying the mistakes in the construction of the road as it has been proven that flawed road design and human error has caused the accidents,” he said.
Congress chief Nana Patole alleged that the road project was inaugurated in a hurry at the hands of the Prime Minister. “The death of the people is on the head of the state government. A case of culpable homicide should be filed against the state government,” he said.
Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed grief over the accident while also expressed his displeasure with the Shinde-Fadnavis government.
Uddhav said that after the accident in Buldhana, the government’s eyes should open.
Meanwhile, BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that Pawar’s remarks about Fadnavis was “shocking and shameful”.
“Sharad Pawar is such a senior and respected leader. But he has hit below the belt. It is very shocking and shameful. Such use of words against opponent especially on a day of accident when state is mourning is devastating,” he said.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
