Netizens Outraged to See Newly Inaugurated Bridge Besmirched by Chewed-Tobacco Stains

The Atal Bridge is a pedestrian bridge spanning the Sabarmati river in the city of Ahmedabad in India's western state of Gujarat. It was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a grand event on 27 August.

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Atal Bridge to the public, a video of the bridge smeared in 'gutka' and 'betel nut' spit stains is doing the rounds on Twitter, eliciting emotional reactions from netizens.

Some social media users called the act "shameful" and others called the vandals who spat on the newly opened bridge "idiots".

"A shameful act by a bunch of illiterate Amdavadis [citizens] on Day One of the newly opened Atal foot bridge," a user wrote on Twitter.

Beautiful new white ‘ Atal’ pedestrian bridge across riverfront was painted red by Gutka spitters on the day 1. Shame on you these Amdavadis who did this. It is good that now that one adult will have to pay 30 Rs. to see and cross.The price is to keep bridge white- not red. pic.twitter.com/zxZYF3k0eW

— Dr. Nishith Shah (@drnvss) August 31, 2022

Meanwhile, the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL), the state-run agency responsible for the bridge's upkeep has levied a fee of 30 rupees ($0.38) for crossing the bridge to control the crowd and prevent such incidents there.

The Atal Bridge is the first footbridge that connects the Sabarmati River's east and west banks in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Modi's home state of Gujarat. The bridge is 300 meters long and 14 meters wide. Its railings have been built with a mix of glass and stainless steel and colorful fabric adorns the roof of the bridge.

Besides, the bridge also has a flower garden at its western end, and it will soon have an art and culture center which is being built at its eastern end.