Congress fires heavy salvo at BJP, MMRDA as they hire tainted contractor for Metro work

Allegations 1.0

However, within a few months of coming to power, BJP faced serious corruption allegations themselves, so much so that the senior-most leader in the state Eknath Khadse had to resign following allegations of misuse of power and serious financial irregularities.

Ever since Khadse resignation, the Opposition had leveled serious corruption allegations against ministers such as the Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde, Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan, Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat. However, the CM Devendra Fadnavins had defended his colleagues in these 'difficult' times.

Allegations 2.0

After serious corruption allegations against key ministers in the cabinet, Congress has now targeted the Mumbai Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) which comes directly under Fadnavis's control.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Sachin Savant has alleged that the MMRDA has awarded the contract for the Mumbai Metro Rail Phase III and VII to a tainted contractor, who has been blacklisted by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

"The MMRDA, which is under the direct control of the CM, has roped in J Kumar Infra Project Ltd (JKIPL) for the work on Phase III and VII of the Mumbai Metro Rail. Surprisingly, the Advocate General (AG) of the state had suggested against awarding contract to JKIPL given the action taken by MCGM against the company for faulty road works in Mumbai," Savant said.

He alleged that the state government has allotted contract worth Rs 5000 crore to JKIPL in Phase III and VII of Mumbai Metro Rail project.

"The party came to power with the promises of a clean and transparent governance and forgot the promise the moment it took charge. The contractor who has done such poor road work in Mumbai cannot be trusted with the lives of millions of people who will use the Metro Rail daily," Savant said.

Shoddy record

The contract for the part of Metro Rail Phase III and VII was awarded to JKIPL in July this year and after the uproar over the appointment on the back drop of Bombay High Court's strictures against the company for pathetic road works in Mumbai, the state government came under heavy criticism.

It was then decided that the legal opinion would be sought from the AG on the issue.

"The AG in his letter dated 4 August has clearly opined that, given the inquiry pending against the contractor, his appointment for Mumbai Metro Rail project should be reconsidered. However, the state government ignored the opinion and went ahead with the appointment," Savant said.

The state government had sought the AG's opinion on whether JKIPL could be considered eligible for opening of financial bid in the light of the blacklisting/de-registration of the company by MCGM. They also wanted to know that if JKIPL was eligible and they were successful in opening a bid and winning - could the MMRDA award them the contract.

"It is understood from the queries, that the contract was yet to be awarded when the opinion was sought. But the ground reality is completely in contrast. The government had already awarded the contract to JKIPL and it was nothing but farce to seek AG's opinion," Savant alleged.

Opinion no matter

In his reply to the MMRDA, the AG had opined that going by the track record of the company in the MCGM projects, awarding them the contract should be avoided. However, the decision on the contractor's eligibility in opening a financial bid would be in the executive or administrative domain of the MMRDA.

The AG, in his reply, had also opined that that MMRDA would be more than justified in disqualifying JKIPL even if the company turned out to be the successful bidders.

When contacted, a senior MMRDA official who did not wish to be named, denied the allegations. "We have not violated any law or even over ruled the AG's opinion in appointing JKIPL as contractor for Mumbai Metro Rail Phase III and VII. The allegations are baseless and far from reality."

Edited by Jhinuk Sen