Amid 'mini rebellion' in some pockets, Congress veteran Karan Singh says "those invited should have gone" ::::::::: Atal Setu opened by PM Modi ::::: Those who commute daily know the difference it will make !!

Amid 'mini rebellion' in some pockets and various states after the Congress party declined to attend the Jan 22, 2024 Ram Mandir inauguration show; the grand old party has come under immense pressure following a statement from party veteran Karan Singh.

After the Supreme Court judgment, there should be no hesitation in attending the function, if invited, Karan Singh stated. In a TV interview, he specifically said, "Kharge should have gone .... but it is their decision, I am not complaining or criticising".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony.

The Ram temple trust has invited 4,000 seers from across the country and 50 guests from foreign countries.

The BJP and the RSS and affiliate Hindutva organisations like the Vishva Hindu Parishad have launched a nationwide mass connect programme in the run-up to the ceremony, urging people to visit the holy place after the consecration ceremony.

In a statement, Singh said he has received the “beautiful invitation” to the “historic pran pratishtha ceremony”, but he will not be able to attend it due to medical reasons.

The ceremony “will be celebrated by about a billion Hindus around the globe,” he said.

“As a Raghuvanshi myself, and having made a modest personal donation of Rs 11 lakh towards the construction, it would have been a great pleasure to attend. Regretfully, nearing 93, it will not be possible for me to do so on medical grounds,” the former Union minister said in a statement.

“However, our family Dharmarth Trust (J&K) is organising a special celebration on this occasion at our famous Sri Raghunath Temple in Jammu, and we are also doing so on a smaller scale at our Shri Ram Mandir on Lodhi Road,” he said.

After the Supreme Court judgment, there should be no hesitation in attending the function, if invited, the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir asserted.

Top Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday “respectfully declined” the invitation to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony, with the party accusing the BJP and the RSS of making it a “political project” for electoral gain.

Atal Setu opened by PM Modi ::::: Those who commute daily, and even those who commuted once in Mumbai locals ...know the difference 

(The MTHL will be a six-lane sea link, with 16.50 kilometres of the stretch on sea and 5.50 kilometres on land. 

Motorbikes, autorickshaws and tractors won’t be allowed on the sea bridge while four-wheelers will have to maintain a speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour.)

 Now, Mumbai-Navi Mumbai commute in 20 mins from 2 hours

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India's longest sea bridge, which will reduce the travel time between South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai from 20 minutes. It's almost a miracle !!

Inaugurating the bridge, PM Modi said, "This is proof of our resolve that for India's development, we can take on even the ocean and break the waves".

The sea bridge is named the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri--Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. The 21.8-kilometre-long bridge has been built at a cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by PM Modi in December 2016 and its construction was done over the last seven years.

The bridge will enhance connectivity to both Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, reducing travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India. Additionally, it will improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The speed limit is set at 40 kilometres per hour on the ascent and descent of the bridge.

On January 4, the Maharashtra government cleared a proposal to charge a one-way toll of Rs 250 per trip for cars using the MTHL. For cars undertaking return journeys using the sea bridge, a toll of Rs 375 will be charged. Monthly and daily passes will be available for Rs 625 and Rs 12,500, respectively.

The bridge incorporates advanced features such as automated toll collection and intelligent transport systems, along with orthotropic steel deck spans - a first in India - allowing for longer spans without the need for support pillars that could obstruct shipping routes.