Residents and commuters of Palava were in for a surprise when a billboard at the Xperia Mall announced that stand-up comic Kunal Kamra would be inaugurating the Palava flyover on the Kalyan-Shilphata Road on April 31.

The bridge, connecting Kalyan to Navi Mumbai, has been awaiting inauguration since a long time.

The message on the billboard read: ‘Palava bridgeche udghatan honaar 31 Aprilla. Udghatak Kunal Kamra. (Palava bridge to be inaugurated on 31 April. Inauguration to be done by Kunal Kamra).

The billboard was an April Fool prank by MNS leader and former MLA Pramod Patil better, popularly known as Raju Patil.

The MNS leader later took to the social networking site X, where he clearly took a dig at the never-ending delays of the Palava Bridge project and also launched a broadside against Shinde.

Patil wrote, "Tarkhanchya ashwasanni full, kadhi honar donhi Palava pool?" (Deadlines and promises galore, but when will the Palava bridges (two spans) be completed?).

The MNS leader also tagged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and MMRDA officials.

Patil, known for his blunt criticism of the BJP-led government, has once again used satire to amplify public frustration.

Stand-up comic Kamra being dragged into the affair was also intentional. Kamra had performed a parody song with a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) jibe at Shinde in January. It triggered a strong backlash from Shiv Sena supporters who vandalised the venue and the hotel last week.

Kamra was booked by the Khar police on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.