06 July,2026 12:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/PTI
Opposition legislators on Monday staged a protest at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, accusing the Maharashtra government of failing to address infrastructure-related problems that surfaced during the ongoing spell of heavy rainfall.
The legislators raised slogans claiming that "Inframan" had gone missing and alleged that the recent downpour exposed weaknesses in infrastructure across Mumbai and other parts of the state.
Senior Congress leaders Satej Patil and Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve and other Opposition members participated in the protest.
The leaders alleged that poor infrastructure planning and maintenance had affected residents during the heavy rains, leading to disruptions and safety concerns.
During the protest, legislators accused the government of failing to protect citizens from rain-related incidents.
Without naming anyone, Opposition members raised slogans claiming that "Inframan" had disappeared and alleged that infrastructure problems had put the lives of Mumbai residents at risk.
They also criticised the government over incidents linked to open manholes, civic issues and disruptions caused by the heavy rainfall.
The Opposition claimed that Mumbai faced major difficulties during the initial spell of heavy rainfall and questioned the administration's monsoon preparedness.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to issue a detailed statement on the Missing Link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway following disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and landslides.
Traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway was affected on Monday after heavy rain, flooding and landslides were reported in the region.
According to police, the expressway was closed between the Connecting Link and Missing Link sections after a concrete pillar fell on the carriageway.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link project, which opened two months ago, is a 13-km bypass through the Sahyadri mountains. It reduces travel distance by around 6 km and cuts travel time by nearly 25 to 30 minutes.
"The chief minister should make a proper statement. Was there a thorough assessment of the Missing Link bridge and how much problem it may face during heavy rainfall? I appeal to the chief minister to make a statement about it as soon as possible," Sule told reporters.
The NCP (SP) leader said she would not comment on corruption allegations at this stage but added that details regarding the actual cost of the project should be made public.
She said public concerns over the disruption were justified and questioned the state's infrastructure preparedness.
Sule said connectivity between Mumbai and Pune had been severely affected due to closures on multiple routes.
"Connectivity between Mumbai and Pune has been affected. There is no certainty whether MLAs can reach Mumbai to attend the legislative session. All three roads -- Tamhini Ghat, the old Mumbai-Pune highway and the Missing Link on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway -- are closed. This is just the beginning of the monsoon, and it has already affected the state," Sule said.
