Fadnavis and Shinde clash over Mumbai's road project delays

Tensions between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were evident in the Assembly on Friday. BJP legislators criticized the Mumbai road concretisation project, which Shinde launched to improve road conditions but has faced delays and quality issues. The project, managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), started in May 2023 but has not been finished. Public frustration over the delays continues to grow, leading Speaker Rahul Narwekar to suggest that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) look into the project. Shinde's vision was clear, but lawmakers blamed the BMC for mismanagement. MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar raised concerns about contractors delivering poor-quality work and failing to meet timelines. He noted that the BMC only issued warnings to some engineers involved after media reports surfaced about problems. Another BJP lawmaker, Ameet Satam, criticized the BMC for too many road projects causing disruption in the city. As the debate heated, Industries Minister Uday Samant initially disagreed with allegations of irregularities. However, the Speaker insisted on an investigation. Narwekar expressed frustration over delays affecting his constituency and called for a meeting with Shinde and Mumbai MLAs to address the issues. The BMC, currently managed by a state-appointed commissioner, has committed to completing about 701 kilometers of road work. Confusion over payments to contractors also arose, with opposition leader Aaditya Thackeray demanding clarity on advancements made. Minister Samant promised that further information would be shared soon. This road project controversy highlights ongoing struggles for power between Fadnavis and Shinde. Fadnavis has recently moved to reverse several of Shinde's past decisions, reflecting the ongoing political tensions in the Mahayuti 2.0 government.