CM won't inaugurate flyovers on amavasya

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has personally ensured that no flyover will be inaugurated on January 26. According to a highly-placed source, this is not because of his tight schedule, but because it is amavasya the new moon dayu00a0when the moon is invisible.u00a0

Thus, the new domestic airport flyover at Vile Parle and the Thakur Complex flyover in Kandivli will be inaugurated today. However, MSRDC said the decision has been taken only to accommodate the CM's dates. Vimal Mundada, chairman, MSRDC and PWD minister, said, "It is difficult to expect the CM to attend the inauguration on January 26, as he will have several other events to attend." Chavan remained unavailable for comment.

The reason
However, the real reason, it is believed, is that it is amavasya on January 25 and 26 and the day is considered unfavou- rable. An MSRDC official said, "We were supposed to inaugurate the flyovers on January 26, but we have rescheduled the date as it is amavasya."

Mundada came down heavily on political parties that create problems during opening of flyovers. Mundada said, "Parties should understand that these are state projects and refrain from creating a commotion."

In July 2008, Shiv Sena activists had created a ruckus during the inauguration of the first three lanes of the domestic airport flyover.