Congress Alleges Multi-Crore BMC Water Project Scam, Demands High-Level Probe
While Congress calls it a 'broker-driven scam' that benefits select contractors at the cost of Mumbai's taxpayers, the BMC has not yet responded to the allegations.
The Mumbai Congress has levelled explosive allegations of large-scale corruption in the tender process for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) ambitious water purification projects, demanding an immediate high-level probe into what it calls a 'broker-driven scam" that benefits select contractors at the cost of Mumbai's taxpayers. The BMC has not yet responded to the allegations.
Addressing a press conference at the Mumbai Congress office on Wednesday, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant, along with city unit chief spokesperson Sureshchandra Rajhans, former corporator Mohsin Haider and spokesperson Nizamuddin Rayeen, claimed that influential brokers and vested interests are manipulating multi-crore tenders under the Mahayuti government's watch.
At the centre of the controversy are the massive Bhandup Complex (2000 MLD capacity) and Panjapur (910 MLD) water purification projects. Sawant alleged that the tender process for these projects has been repeatedly altered to favour a specific contractor, blocking global competition and violating Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Competition Commission guidelines.
Citing detailed timelines, Sawant said that the Rs 4,376 crore Bhandup project tender was first floated on October 10, 2023, with a pre-bid meeting on October 26. The tender was then extended six times before an addendum introduced a critical change — restricting eligible experience to companies with prior projects in India only. 'This was done to keep out global players and ensure only a pre-decided firm could qualify," Sawant alleged.
According to Sawant, this manipulation inflated the final approved bid by nearly 30 per cent over the original estimate, causing huge losses to the municipal exchequer. Similarly, the Panjapur project tender, floated on September 24, 2024, was postponed eight times and eventually cancelled in March 2025 citing 'no response." A fresh tender was issued in April with stricter eligibility clauses again demanding only India-based experience. Sawant pointed out that this pattern raises grave doubts of a rigged process, benefiting the same contractor and technology supplier 'Veolia" repeatedly.
Calling BMC offices and the Mantralaya 'dens of brokers," the Congress leaders alleged a deep nexus between contractors, officials, technology suppliers and middlemen, operating with impunity under political protection. Sawant confirmed that on July 16, the party had formally written to relevant authorities demanding a detailed investigation.
He warned that unless probed immediately, Mumbai's taxpayers would continue to suffer while a corrupt contractor-broker-official nexus thrives unchecked under the Mahayuti regime.
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First Published:
July 25, 2025, 10:59 IST
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