MNS slams BMC over new tenders for road works

In the 2016 road scam eight contractors were blacklisted. Representation pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has slammed the Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and alleged the possibilities of a scam with new tenders floated for road works. The party leaders have said that the new tenders by the Road Department are drafted in such a way that they will allow backdoor entry to debarred contractors of the Rs 352-cr, 2016 road scam. MNS leaders in a press conference on Monday revealed that out of 8 registered asphalt plant owners, there was an FIR against four and the BMC had also debarred them.

The Registered Irrevocable Undertakings (U/T) of these four should strictly not be allowed, but they are being allowed and this may lead to cartelization, as hardly any competition will be left and there could be the repeat of a scam, MNS leaders said. In the year 2016, a road scam was unearthed wherein about 8 road contractors and several civic engineers were blacklisted. Some also faced an FIR for giving sub-standard quality roads to the city.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, "The BMC is again bringing back the old tendering system and reducing competition and enabling the tainted contractors' mafia to control the Road Department." Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Infrastructure R Talkar said, "We will scrutinise the concerns of the party and after that we will update our authorities about the same and take an appropriate decision in this matter."