PM Modi’s Mumbai Visit Trimmed Amid Security Concerns: Metro Line 3, Samruddhi, Thane Bridge Launches On Hold

Several major infrastructure and transport projects in Mumbai, which were expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit on May 1, have now been postponed. This decision comes in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22.

The projects include the partial opening of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Acharya Atre Chowk, the final Igatpuri-to-Thane section of the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway, the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the new Thane Creek Bridge, and the handover of newly redeveloped homes at the BDD Chawl in Worli.

Photo Credit: pti

Although these projects are either completed or in the final stages of clearance, their public launch has been delayed due to heightened security concerns. Government sources say the Prime Minister's Office was not in favour of holding grand celebrations or public ceremonies so soon after the Pahalgam attack, which left the nation in shock.

The Mumbai Metro Line 3, which is being constructed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), is still waiting for its final safety approval. Once cleared, the section between BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk will be the first underground stretch of the metro to be opened to the public.

The 76-kilometre Igatpuri-to-Thane stretch of the Samruddhi Expressway and the new Mumbai-bound arm of the Thane Creek Bridge have both been completed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Despite being ready for several months, these have remained unopened due to scheduling issues and now, security concerns.

The BDD Chawl redevelopment project in Worli, led by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), was also planned to be part of the Prime Minister's visit. Newly built housing blocks under this project are ready for people to move in, and the inauguration has been highly anticipated by residents.

Until the Pahalgam incident, preparations were underway for a major public event in Bandra Kurla Complex, where PM Modi was expected to address the public and officially launch the projects. This was seen as a key showcase of the government's infrastructure achievements ahead of the upcoming elections.

Now that the event has been cancelled, the state government is considering alternative options. One possibility is a smaller, low-key inauguration event. Another option under discussion is to allow Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde to jointly inaugurate the projects.

However, no final decision has been made yet. Officials have said that a fresh plan will be shared soon, depending on the security situation and PM Modi's updated schedule.