During 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
-1748701351663_d.png "Aaditya Thackeray seeks Eknath Shinde's sacking over cancellation of MMRDA's two projects; calls for probe")
Aaditya Thackeray demanded that Maharashtra CM Fadnavis must initiate an investigation against Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday demanded the dismissal of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after MMRDA informed the Supreme Court that it had cancelled the tender process for other two major infrastructural projects in Mumbai.
During a press conference, Aaditya Thackeray demanded that Maharashtra Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis must initiate an investigation against Eknath Shinde through the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), or the Income Tax Department, reported PTI.
Shinde who is currently the Urban Development Minister and head of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday told the Supreme Court that the company is scraping two tenders associated with the Gaimukh-Ghodbunder-Bhayander project and said it would instead start a new project ‘to safeguard larger public interest.’
According to MMRDA this measure was taken voluntarily to establish public trust and ensure appropriate use of the funds. It also added that the authority was actively evaluating the possibility of reducing the base cost by nearly Rs 3,000 crore, taking into account the financial bids that came to light during the course of the legal proceedings.
Talking about this Thackeray said, “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. Will CM Fadnavis get the matter probed by EOW, IT or ED? The CM should himself take charge of the MMDRA. 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 slammed the MMRDA after hearing the plea of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) over this matter, against the MMRDA’s decision to disqualify the infractrual project. These infrastructural projects are nearly Rs 6000 crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project, which included construction of a 9.8 km bridge over Vasai Creek and Rs 8000 crore project for building tunnel road, including the development of twin tunnels that stretching five kilometres from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel Junction on Ghodbunder Road in Thane.
Thackeray said that last year MMRDA had given 20 days for bidders to submit their bids for mega infrastructures projects within 20 days.
According to Thackeray the tender was issued on September 13, 2024 and the bid was supposed to be submitted by October 3, 2024. He mentioned that such notices are issued only for emergency works and not for such big- ticket projects.
Thackeray pointed out that after he raised this concern the deadline of submission of bid was extended to 60 days.
Thackeray also alleged that a bank guarantee was submitted by a financial institution based in St Louis, a Caribbean country, raising concerns about its credibility. He claimed that it was only after he publicly raised objections that the MMRDA revoked its earlier decision.
According to Thackeray, the tender specifications were framed in a manner that would benefit certain ‘favourite contractors’, suggesting the process was tailored to suit specific companies.
(With inputs from PTI)
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