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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Oppn demands Shinde's resignation over scrapped MMRDA tender process
MUMBAI: Following the decision of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to scrap the controversial tender process for the Thane-Ghodbunder-to-Bhayandar twin tunnels and elevated road projects, opposition parties targeted deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who has been heading the urban development department that governs MMRDA. Pointing out that he was first to raise the issue of the controversial tender process, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday demanded the removal of Shinde from the state cabinet and a probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the entire episode. In July last year, MMRDA had issued a notice, inviting tenders for two public infrastructure projects. The first was the Road Tunnel project (Gaumukh to Fountain Hotel junction on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road), which envisaged 5-kilometre-long twin tunnels of 14.6-metre diameter at a cost of ₹8,000 crore. The second project was the construction of a 9.8-km-long elevated road over Vasai Creek. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which was the lowest bidder, recently approached the Supreme Court saying that MMRDA had arbitrarily declared the Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) as L1 (lowest) bidder for both the projects, despite its bid being higher than L&T's. The Supreme Court raised questions on the process, and on Friday, MMRDA told the court that the tender has been scrapped, and new tenders would be floated for these projects. 'I was the first to raise my voice over the tender process for the two projects in October 2024,' said Aaditya. 'With MMRDA scrapping the tender, it has been confirmed that there were irregularities, and the project was pushed ahead with an eye on the assembly elections.' Aaditya said that MMRDA, under Eknath Shinde, had floated a short-duration tender of only 20 days. 'This was done when Shinde was the chief minister and also the urban development minister,' he said. 'There was an irregularity at every step of the tender process. This was not possible unless approved by those who were handling the department. Therefore, Shinde should be removed from the position immediately.' Aaditya said that CM Devendra Fadnavis kept claiming from time to time that he was giving Maharashtra a clean administration. 'If Fadnavis is serious, there should be a probe of the tender issue by the EOW or ED,' he said. 'As Shinde is involved in the matter, he should be removed from the post of deputy CM and cabinet minister to ensure a transparent probe.' Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged that the controversial tender was a ₹3,000-crore scam. 'MMRDA has cancelled the tender but the matter does not end here,' he said. 'This is a matter of deep-rooted corruption.' Sapkal declared that Fadnavis and Shinde had created a 'corruption corridor' in the state involving agencies like MMRDA, MHADA, CIDCO and SRA, and demanded a judicial probe into all major infrastructure projects taken up during the tenure of the two Mahayuti governments.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Aaditya Thackeray asks why no action against construction firms after flood water gushes into Mumbai Metro station
A day after water gushed into the newly opened underground Metro station, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray asked why the Maharashtra government was hesitant in taking action against the Turkish firm Dogus that had constructed the stretch between Mumbai Central to Worli in association with Indian firm Soma. Hardly 17 days after its inauguration, services on the city's first underground Metro were hit on Monday owing to floodwater gushing into the Metro stations. Passengers reported water cascading down the steps into the Acharya Atre Chowk station like a waterfall. The stations had been built by the consortium of Dogus-Soma. 'Why shouldn't Dogus be suspended like Celebi Airport Services? Isn't it a matter of national security?' Aaditya said. He also cited a Safety Commissioner's report that allegedly mentioned 713 cracks in Phase 2 of Metro Line 3 and questioned how the line was inaugurated despite these concerns. 'We demand compensation for Mumbaikars whose shops and homes were inundated,' he said. Raut echoed the criticism, alleging corruption in Metro project contracts and calling the early inauguration of the underground Metro a publicity stunt. 'The Metro work wasn't complete but was rushed for publicity. Around Rs 1,500 crore was allegedly taken from contractors as commission, and now it has gone down the drain,' he said, blaming the state government, the administration, and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde. He further alleged that Rs 35,000 crore collected as 'commission' from BMC contractors is now being used to lure corporators for political gain. 'They've been in power for over three years—why weren't the drains cleaned before monsoon?' Raut asked. Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Balasaheb Thackeray and Operation Sindoor, Aaditya said: 'Mumbaikars want answers—why has the BJP brought Mumbai to this state? Thousands of hectares are damaged, yet farmers receive no help. Why are cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune being ignored?' Meanwhile, Shinde-led Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske hit back, claiming the Thackerays and UBT have no moral authority to criticise Shinde. Mhaske alleged large-scale corruption during the Covid-19 pandemic under the UBT-led BMC. 'As Thane Mayor, we bought body bags at ₹350. BMC bought them for ₹7,000. The difference is clear,' he said. Mhaske also contrasted UBT's past alliance with Congress to Shinde's current stature. 'During the MVA era, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi made UBT leaders wait outside. Today, Shinde had the honour of congratulating PM Modi and the Army at the NDA meeting.'
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Teen with cerebral palsy notches 83%
Mumbai: Aaditya Motiwale (16), a CBSE Class 10 student of Kharghar's Ramsheth Thakur Public School, who has lived with cerebral palsy since he was 6, scored 83%, including 98% in Marathi. Despite battling the neurological disorder that has affected his mobility, vision and coordination, Aaditya studied for up to nine hours a day using assistive technology such as voice tools, laptops, text highlighters and audio notes, as well as YouTube academic success is supported by his mother, who helped him with studies. Aaditya struggled with maths but his mother helped him by making him solve sums orally. Principal Raj Aloni and staff ensured all CBSE provisions for special needs students were met. Teachers monitored his academic progress closely, provided regular counselling, and offered extra support through online classes and one-on-one sessions. Aaditya aspires to join the Indian Civil Services . — Samya Kamaal Khan
