Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray on Saturday demanded the removal of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as MMRDA apprised the Supreme Court of his decision to cancel the tender process for two major infrastructure projects in Mumbai.
Addressing a press conference, Thackeray said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should order an inquiry against Shinde by the Police Economic Offenses Branch (EOW), Enforcement Directorate (ED) or Income Tax Department.
On Friday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), headed by Shinde and also the Urban Development Minister, told the Supreme Court that he is canceling two tenders associated with the Gaymukh-Ghodbandar-Bhayandar project and will start the process of inviting new dialects to protect the widespread public interest.
MMRDA said that this step is being voluntarily taken to strengthen public confidence and ensure optimal use of taxpayers’ money. Also, the state -run authority is actively considering a reduction of about Rs 3,000 crore on the basis of financial bids revealed during the trial.
Thackeray said, “Why should the government back back? No contractor goes against the government for a tender. It is only a scam. Canceling the tender does not mean everything is clear. A sword was hanging near you (MMRDA), so you had to cancel the tender.”
He said, “Will CM Fadnavis investigate the case to be investigated by EOW, IT or ED? CM should take charge of MMDRA himself.” Thackeray said, “Shinde’s corruption has been proved. Will you dismiss him from the cabinet until the investigation is completed? He will have to face action.”
The Supreme Court also reprimanded MMRDA in this case. The court heard the petition of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) against this decision of MMRDA. The MMRDA disqualified the giant of this infrastructure by bidding for the project. Two high -value projects under consideration include a Mumbai elevated road project of about Rs 6,000 crore, a 9.8 -km bridge with Vasai Creek and a road tunnel project of Rs 8,000 crore, including the construction of a five -kilometer twin tunnels from Gaymukh to Fountain Hotel Junction on Thane’s Ghodbandar Road.
Last year, Thackeray said that initially MMRDA had given bidder only 20 days to submit his bids for mega infrastructure projects. He said that the tender was released on September 13, 2024 and the bidder was to submit the bid on 3 October 2024. He said that such notice is given only for emergency work, not for big projects. Thackeray said that when he raised this issue, the deadline for depositing bids was extended to 60 days.
He said that the bank was guaranteed from a financial institution in St. Louis (Caribbean country) and when he made a noise on the issue, MMRDA withdrew its decision. According to him, the conditions of the tender were designed in such a way that some “favorite contractors” could achieve it.
