Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Killed in Plane Crash Amid Mumbai Infrastructure Debates

MUMBAI (Azat TV) – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died tragically on Wednesday when his Learjet 45 XR aircraft crashed near the Baramati runway, shortly after taking off from Mumbai. The sudden death of the influential politician has sent shockwaves across India’s political landscape, coinciding with significant developments and controversies surrounding major infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai, including the approval of a new metro line connecting two key airports and intense public scrutiny over a newly constructed flyover.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that Pawar, along with four other individuals – two crew members and two staff personnel – were killed in the crash. The aircraft, registered as VT-SSK, burst into flames upon impact at approximately 8:48 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound sadness, stating his thoughts were with the bereaved families.

Previous Incident with VSR Aviation Aircraft

Investigators are working to ascertain the cause of Wednesday’s crash. This incident marks the second accident involving a Learjet 45 XR owned by VSR Aviation in less than two and a half years. Previously, on September 14, 2023, another Learjet 45 XR (VT-DBL) from the same company crash-landed at Mumbai airport. That earlier incident, which occurred during heavy rain and poor visibility, saw the aircraft drift off Runway 27, resulting in the fuselage splitting and a fire, though all occupants were evacuated with injuries and no fatalities were reported.

Ajit Pawar was a prominent and often controversial figure in Maharashtra politics, a nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Ajit Pawar had previously broken away from his uncle’s party with several lawmakers, establishing his own faction which the Election Commission later recognized as the official NCP. At the time of his death, his party was part of Maharashtra’s governing alliance alongside Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, and he had served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister.

New Metro Line to Connect Mumbai Airports

Amidst the political shock, Maharashtra’s government on Tuesday, January 27, approved the construction of a new 35-kilometer metro line (Line 8) that will drastically reduce travel time between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI Airport) and the newly-opened Navi Mumbai International Airport. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the state cabinet’s approval for the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 18,000 crore and is expected to be completed within five years.

The new line will feature 25 stations, including six underground and 14 elevated sections, and will intersect with three other metro routes. Key stations will include CSMI Airport Terminal 2, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Vashi, and both terminals of Navi Mumbai International Airport. The project, previously planned by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), will now be developed by CIDCO in collaboration with a private entity under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The state and central governments will each contribute 20% of the cost, with the remaining 60% sourced from the private partner. Daily ridership is projected to exceed 10 lakh by 2031, significantly benefiting flyers, aviation crew, and cargo operators who currently face 70-90 minute road travel times between the two airports.

Flyover Design Sparks Public Safety Concerns

Adding to Mumbai’s complex infrastructure narrative, a new double-decker flyover in Mira-Bhayander has triggered significant public scrutiny and criticism over what appears to be an abrupt reduction from four lanes to two. The flyover, part of the Metro Line 9 project, has drawn widespread attention after a viral social media post by the ‘Gems of Mira Bhayander’ account on X questioned its safety and potential to worsen congestion.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has vehemently denied any design flaw, asserting that the lane transition is a planned engineering decision. Officials stated the configuration is governed by right-of-way constraints and provisions for future expansion, with two lanes currently towards Bhayander (East) and space reserved for two more towards Bhayander (West). However, social activist Anjali Damania rejected MMRDA’s explanation, calling the design unsafe and drawing parallels to the 2022 car accident that killed businessman Cyrus Mistry, which was attributed to faulty bridge design. Advocate Krishna Gupta also raised concerns about execution and accountability, noting that the contractor, J Kumar Infraprojects, had previously been blacklisted by BMC and faced quality control issues on other double-decker bridges. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also weighed in on X, criticizing the ‘horrid designs’ and MMRDA’s defense of a practice he labeled ‘stupid, if not corrupt.’ MMRDA maintains that the 1.5-km Deepak Hospital-Phatak Road stretch in Bhayander (East) includes safety features such as signage, rumble strips, and crash barriers, with inputs from traffic police incorporated before commissioning.

The tragic death of a high-profile political leader like Ajit Pawar underscores the precarious nature of public life and the constant demand for accountability, even as ongoing debates about critical infrastructure projects in Mumbai highlight the persistent tension between rapid urban development, public safety, and governmental transparency in one of the world’s most populous regions.