A political dispute has emerged in Mumbai over the naming of the new East-West Vidyavihar bridge, which remains unopened to traffic. The project, designed to provide a vital link between the eastern and western suburbs, has become the subject of a competing naming campaign between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has formally staked its claim by erecting a banner on the structure, calling for it to be named the “Padma Shri Nana Patekar Setu.” A delegation from the party recently met with Mayor Ritu Tawde to submit a formal request regarding the naming. The actor, who passed away on October 8 at the age of 75, was widely respected for his cultural contributions and his extensive humanitarian work in Maharashtra.
In contrast, local BJP MLA Parag Shah has thrown his support behind Captain Smit Machchhar. Shah, who noted that he shares a personal connection with the pilot as a former junior at his school, has written to the relevant authorities advocating for the bridge to be named after the captain. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has described the project as a 650-metre, two-lane bridge that includes a 100-metre section stretching over railway tracks to connect Ramchandra Chemburkar Marg with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg.
The push for Nana Patekar is rooted in his long-standing connection to the people of Maharashtra. Beyond his professional achievements, which included three National Film Awards and the 2013 Padma Shri, Patekar was frequently cited for his down-to-earth lifestyle and his commitment to social causes. In 2015, he co-founded the NAAM Foundation to assist families of farmers affected by drought. He also served in the Territorial Army, notably during the 1999 Kargil War.
Conversely, the nomination of Captain Smit Machchhar highlights a more recent, high-profile act of bravery. A Mumbai native raised in a textile-business family in Ghatkopar East, Machchhar gained international recognition after the September 30 flight of Flydubai FZ1073. Despite sustaining serious injuries during an attack by his first officer, he managed to secure the cockpit, enabling the crew and passengers to subdue the attacker and safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia. His actions drew praise from global leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The political disagreement has drawn criticism from within the civic body. Ganesh Khankar, a leader in the BMC, accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of attempting to manufacture a controversy for political optics. He suggested that a theatre or a similar cultural facility would be a more suitable tribute to Patekar’s artistic career than a piece of transport infrastructure.
As the debate continues, the contrast between the two nominees remains stark. The proposal for Patekar emphasizes decades of regional service and a deep, lifelong bond with the residents of Maharashtra. The nomination of Machchhar draws upon a moment of extraordinary crisis and his emergence as a figure of global attention. With the bridge currently closed, the naming row serves as a reminder of the differing priorities and political allegiances within the city’s administrative landscape.
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