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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.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Relief for L&T, SC okays scrapping of key tender
In relief to engineering and construction company Larsen & Toubro, which was challenging its disqualification in the tender process for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) told the Supreme Court that it has decided to scrap the entire tender process. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi told a bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai that the process has been scrapped and the authority will await for further directions from the state government. Recording Rohatgi's submission, the bench in its order said, 'Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent (MMRDA), fairly submit that the state has decided to scrap the entire tender process in the larger public interest and will take such steps, as are advised.' The bench, also comprising justices AG Masih and Atul S Chandurkar, said, 'In that view of the matter, the present special leave petitions have been rendered infructuous and are disposed of as such.' L&T had approached the top court against an order of the Bombay high court passed on May 20, which allowed MMRDA to open the other financial bids.L&T said it came to know of its disqualification only in early May. The company submitted its techniocal bid in December. The top court earlier expressed surprise at how the company which constructed the Central Vista project was disqualified. On Friday, the court appreciated the MMRDA's stand and said, 'We are in an era of transparency,' pointing out that it was concerned about the 'larger public interest' as public money is involved. In July, MMRDA issued a notice inviting tenders for its public infrastructure projects involving the Road Tunnel project (Gaumukh to Fountain Hotel junction on Thane Ghodbunder Road). This projects envisaged 5-kilometre-long twin tunnels of finished diameter 14.6 metres estimated at ₹8,000 crore. The second project involving construction of a 9.8 kilometre long Elevated Road envisaged a bridge passing along the Vasai Creek. Both projects were meant to be an extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road project and a part of MMRDA's larger road expansion project involving construction of approximately 15 kilometre of road from Gaumukh (in Thane) to Bhayander. L&T submitted its technical bid in December 2024 and this was opened on January 1. In May, the company learnt that MMRDA sent letters to qualified technical bidders asking them to appear for the opening of the financial bids on May 13. L&T had approached the Bombay high court, which initially stayed the opening of the financial bids but then ruled against L&T in its May 20 order, prompting the appeal.
