Patil takes a swipe at Big B, speaks for commuters

Mumbai, Sep 1: In a veil attack on Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil defended the infrastructure projects aimed at making commuting easier for the common man.

"Mumbai traffic is growing, travel conditions are worsening by the day... people spend four-five hours in commuting daily. We have to think of them," Patil told reporters.

This comment by the home minister is being seen as an oblique reference to Bachchan's remarks that the Mumbai Metro railway would invade his privacy.

In a blog post, Bachchan had expressed unhappiness over one of the proposed metro rail routes passing over his Pratiksha bungalow in Juhu.

"It is finally happening. The Metro rail being laid over the metropolis called Mumbai, some under the ground, some above over large tracts of cement structures is taking shape.

"There is general happiness from the commuters, for, the misery of crowded locals and the uncertainties of the three-wheeler or the yellow-black cab shall hopefully be greatly reduced."

"But here is the killer - it's going to roll over Prateeksha!! So bye bye privacy and hello fellow traveller," Bachchan complained in his blog.

OneIndia News