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The Hindu
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Aaditya Thackeray demands probe into scrapped MMRDA tenders
Aaditya Thackeray, who represents the Worli constituency in the State Legislative Assembly, on Saturday (May 31, 2025) called upon Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate a probe against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, following the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) decision to cancel the tender process for two major infrastructure projects in Mumbai. The two projects in question are the ₹6,000-crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project, involving a 9.8-kilometre bridge along the Vasai Creek, and the ₹8,000-crore Road Tunnel Project, which includes the construction of five-kilometre twin tunnels from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel Junction on Thane's Ghodbunder Road. 'Why should the government back down? No contractor goes against the government for one tender. This is only a scam. Cancelling the tender does not mean everything is clean. You [the MMRDA] had a hanging sword which is why you had to cancel the tender,' Mr. Thackeray said. 'Will CM Fadnavis get the matter probed by EOW, IT or ED? The CM should himself take charge of the MMRDA,' he continued. 'Shinde's corruption is proved. Will you sack him from the cabinet till the probe gets over? He has to face action,' Mr. Thackeray added. The statement gains significance as the MMRDA, which operates under the Urban Development Department led by Mr. Shinde, informed the Supreme Court that it was cancelling two tenders linked to the Gaimukh-Ghodbunder-Bhayander project. The authority said it would issue fresh tenders 'to safeguard larger public interest'. Further, the MMRDA stated that it was actively considering a downward revision of the base cost by ₹3,000 crore, based on financial bids disclosed during ongoing litigation. The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) challenging its disqualification from the tender process, also expressed criticism over the MMRDA's handling of the matter. Mr. Thackeray noted that the original tender was floated on September 13, 2024, with a bid submission deadline of October 3, 2024 — a window typically reserved for emergency projects. 'Such short notice is not appropriate for large-scale infrastructure works,' he said, adding that the deadline was only extended to 60 days after he raised objections. He further alleged that the terms of the tender were crafted in a manner that would favour 'preferred contractors.'
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Aaditya Thackeray seeks Dy CM Shinde's ouster over scrapped MMRDA tenders
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday called for the removal of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it had cancelled the tender process for two major infrastructure projects in Mumbai. Speaking at a press conference, Thackeray urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate an investigation against Shinde through the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), or the Income Tax Department. Tender cancellation and SC hearing Earlier on Friday, the MMRDA, chaired by Shinde who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, told the Supreme Court that it was withdrawing two tenders linked to the Gaimukh-Ghodbunder-Bhayander project. Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro had challenged the award of the contract to Megha Engineering, and questioned why it had been disqualified. The authority stated it would restart the bidding process "to safeguard larger public interest". The MMRDA said this step was being taken voluntarily to strengthen public confidence and ensure better use of taxpayers' money. It also noted that a reduction in the base cost by about Rs 3,000 crore was being considered, based on financial bids submitted during the court proceedings. Thackeray questioned the move, saying, "Why should the government back down? No contractor goes against the government for one tender. This is only a scam. Cancelling the tender does not mean everything is clean. You (the MMRDA) had a hanging sword which is why you had to cancel the tender." He added, "Will CM Fadnavis get the matter probed by EOW, IT or ED? The CM should himself take charge of the MMDRA." Allegations of corruption Continuing his criticism, Thackeray said, "Shinde's corruption is proved. Will you sack him from the cabinet till the probe gets over? He has to face action." The Supreme Court also criticised the MMRDA during its hearing of a plea filed by infrastructure firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which was challenging its disqualification from the bidding process. The two projects under scrutiny include the Rs 6,000-crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project, which involves a 9.8-kilometre bridge over Vasai Creek, and the Rs 8,000-crore Road Tunnel Project, consisting of twin 5-km tunnels from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel Junction on Ghodbunder Road in Thane. Concerns over tender conditions Thackeray also referred to concerns he had raised earlier. He pointed out that when the tender was first floated on September 13, 2024, bidders were given only 20 days to submit their proposals, or by October 3, 2024. He stated that such short deadlines are typically reserved for urgent works and not large-scale projects. According to him, after he raised objections, the deadline was extended to 60 days. He also highlighted that a bank guarantee came from a financial institution based in St Louis, a Caribbean nation, and said the MMRDA rolled back its decision only after he raised the issue. Thackeray claimed the tender rules were created to benefit select contractors. According to him, "The tender conditions were designed in such a way that some 'favourite contractors' could bag it.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tenders for Mumbai road projects worth Rs 14,000cr scrapped, SC told
Representative image Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday informed Supreme Court it had decided to scrap the tenders for the proposed Rs 6,000 crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project and the Rs 8,000 crore Road Tunnel Project. The matter reached SC after Larsen and Toubro challenged the decision of MMRDA to reject its technical bids for the projects. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, which was a prominent purchaser of electoral bonds prior to these getting scrapped by SC, was declared the successful bidder. A bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justices A G Masih and A S Chandurkar had expressed surprise over Megha emerging as successful bidder on Thursday. "It is for the Maharashtra govt to take a call on whether to invite fresh tenders for the two projects," it said and disposed of the L&T's appeal as infructuous.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
After L&T's challenge, MMRDA scraps tenders for 14k cr road projects
Mumbai/New Delhi: In a major relief for construction major Larsen & Toubro, MMRDA informed a Supreme Court vacation bench that it has in public interest scrapped its tenders for the Thane-Ghodbunder- Bhayandar twin tunnel and elevated road projects — estimated together at Rs 14,000 crore — and that it would possibly reissue fresh ones, but added it is for the state govt to take a call on, reports Swati Deshpande. The matter reached SC after L&T challenged MMRDA's decision to reject its technical bids for the projects. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure, which was a prominent purchaser of electoral bonds prior to being scrapped by SC, was declared the successful bidder. CJI B R Gavai remarked Friday this is the era of transparency and that the court was concerned with the larger public interest. The bench had Thursday also expressed surprise that technical bids of a firm which had built Central Vista and Atal Setu were rejected. After a Supreme Court bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justices A G Masih and A S Chandurkar was informed Friday about scrapping of the bidding process for the two projects, the SC disposed of the L&T's appeal as infructuous. "It is for the Maharashtra govt to take a call on whether to invite fresh tenders for the two projects," said MMRDA counsel solicitor general Tushar Mehta and Mukul Rohatgi. The elevated road project proposed a 9.8km overbridge along Vasai Creek and is part of an extension of Mumbai Coastal Road Project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Что происходит при сжигании лаврового листа? Undo The Road Tunnel Project involved design and construction of a five-km long twin road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction on Thane Ghodbunder Road. The Supreme Court in its order noted both Mehta and Rohatgi for MMRDA "fairly submitted 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 SLPs were thus rendered infructuous, said SC. L&T went to the high court on May 13, the day the financial bids were to be opened for the second-largest road project after Atal Setu. It said MMRDA was flouting instructions to bidders and PWD and CVC guidelines of informing bidders of the technical bid round outcome, which precedes the opening of price bids. In court, MMRDA said L&T and two others of the five bidders were found "non-responsive" or disqualified, and it was not mandatory to intimate the results to the bidders before the final winning or lowest bidder (L1) was selected post the last and financial round. L&T senior counsel A M Singhvi and Kapil Sibal informed the Supreme Court the difference between the L1 and its client was over Rs 3,100 crore. No other bidders were made party by L&T to its petitions. Before the Bombay High Court, L&T senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas also said "hypothetically" if in one project there were two tenders—one for the tunnel and one for the elevated road—the difference was over Rs 2,000 crore, would the public exchequer not suffer? The high court vacation bench dismissed the L&T petitions on May 20, citing MMRDA's argument of it being a large public infrastructure project which could brook no delay and the fact that the company participated in the bidding process and did not challenge the terms of the tender. L&T immediately challenged the high court order before the SC. On Monday, the Chief Justice-led bench wondered aloud in court how L&T could have been found technically disqualified and asked MMRDA to consult the state and see if it was willing to re-tender the project, else it would pass orders on Thursday. On Thursday, MMRDA counsel, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Mukul Rohatgi, informed the high court that it was in touch with the govt top brass and sought a deferment to Friday. Last Oct, after L&T moved HC, MMRDA extended the tender deadline by 60 days for its two mega projects. Pic for representation
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Substantial grounds' for rejecting L&T bid for Mumbai elevated road and tunnel projects, MMRDA tells SC
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that there were 'substantial grounds' for rejecting the technical bid of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for the proposed approximately Rs 6,000 crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project and the Rs 8,000 crore Road Tunnel Project. 'There are substantial grounds,' Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for MMRDA, told a bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and A G Masih, which raised doubts about the disqualification. Hearing the matter on May 26, CJI Gavai had wondered how the company chosen by the central government for the construction of the Central Vista project had failed to pass muster for the Mumbai projects. As the bench took up the matter again on Thursday, Mehta urged the court to hear it on Friday. While agreeing to the request, the CJI once again raised the question of L&T being chosen for the Central Vista project. Pointing out that there is public money involved, the CJI added, 'The question is the person who is building Central Vista…'. CJI Gavai, apparently highlighting the need to ensure safety standards, referred to the 2023 collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand where 41 workers were trapped and subsequently rescued. 'L&T is disqualified, but the person who has been granted has such…,' said the CJI. Before he could complete, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for L&T, added, 'Enormous credentials.' Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited is the successful L1 bidder for the project. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for MMRDA, said, 'We have not shown Your Lordships the reasons. If Your Lordships were to see the reasons…'. The CJI said, 'We will consider it.' Mehta said Rohatgi 'wants to convey that the disqualification is not on any flimsy' grounds. 'Not fanciful' grounds, added Rohatgi. The senior counsel added, 'We have examined the reports. Our problem is that the tender says we cannot disclose'. Rohatgi was implying that the tender conditions restrain the MMRDA from disclosing the reasons for disqualifying a bidder till the contract is awarded. On May 26, the bench had asked MMRDA whether it was willing to retender the projects, failing which, the court said, it would stay the tender process. The Elevated Road Project envisages a 9.80 km bridge passing along the Vasai Creek. It is part of an extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and a part of the MMRDA's larger road expansion project involving the construction of an around 15 km stretch of road from Gaimukh in Thane to Bhayander. The Road Tunnel Project is for the design and construction of an underground road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction on Thane Ghodbunder Road. It envisages 5 km-long twin tunnels of a finished diameter of 14.6 m. The principal ground of L&T's challenge is that it was technically disqualified from the process without any intimation or reasons. It contended that the arbitrary and non-transparent manner of carrying out the tender process has resulted in the declaration of the L1 bid for both projects to Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. at a substantially higher project cost. L&T had initially challenged the MMRDA's decision to proceed with the opening of the price bids without the presence of L&T, and without communication of any disqualification to it, before the Bombay High Court. The same was dismissed via two orders on May 20, following which it approached the Supreme Court.
