Shivsena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray during an interview with The Hindu at his residence in Mumbai. File
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

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.”