Vikrant Joshi
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Bureaucracy
  • Corruption
  • Mantralaya
  • Adhiveshan
  • Social
  • Transfers
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Bureaucracy
  • Corruption
  • Mantralaya
  • Adhiveshan
  • Social
  • Transfers
No Result
View All Result
Vikrant Joshi
No Result
View All Result

The Mithi River Development and Pollution Control Project: A Tale of Escalating Costs and Questionable Decisions!

Vikrant Joshi by Vikrant Joshi
February 19, 2025
in Bureaucracy, Corruption, Mantralaya, Politics
0

The Mithi River Development and Pollution Control Project: A Tale of Escalating Costs and Questionable Decisions

The Mithi River Development and Pollution Control Project (Package III) has raised significant concerns regarding its cost escalation, monopolization, and lack of a proven concept. This package includes Dry Weather Flow Interception at Tidal Outfalls (including Gate Pumps), Transfer Sewer, Training of River (Retaining Wall & Service Road), Beautification including Promenades, and Allied Works from CST Bridge Kurla to Mahim Causeway, including Vakola River. However, the manner in which this project is being executed has left many questioning its transparency and feasibility.

A Project with a Troubled History

Initially, the consultancy for the project was handled by Frischman Prabhu, and the estimated cost was a reasonable ₹70 crore, with routine pumps being proposed. However, in a suspicious turn of events, the project scope was altered to exclusively include gate pumps, thereby eliminating technological flexibility. The tender process, instead of being technology-agnostic, appears to have been structured to facilitate cartelization and favoritism. 

Unprecedented Cost Escalation

One of the most alarming aspects of this project is its staggering cost escalation. Originally pegged at ₹70 crore, the estimate has skyrocketed multiple times—from ₹350 crore to ₹900 crore and now an astronomical ₹2,100 crore. In fact in only the last 4 months an added escalation of around Rs. 400cr was done to the estimate and new quotes were called to validate such an astronomical hike. Such an exponential increase raises serious concerns about financial prudence and accountability. It appears that the project is being tailor-made to benefit India’s leading firm whose son just got married, in joint venture with Ashoka Buildcon & Akshaya Construction, under undue influence. Do I need to say why and how many calls were made to the consultants (IVL) by ‘Ajay bhai’ to send revised cost escalation. Rs 400 crores in 4 months? BMC has a lot of explanation to do., especially AMC Abhijit Bangar. 

Political Influence and Backroom Deals

Reports suggest that individuals like Laqshya Gupta, (no experience of Infra development and only based on financial power) has been hobnobbing with a lot of politicians, and is allegedly in close connection with former Member of Parliament from Central Mumbai now in Eknath Shinde group. These are the people pressuring the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to proceed with the project without waiting for proof of concept. Such undue influence raises serious ethical and governance concerns. The speed in which permissions and signatures were taken to sanction the said bid is itself astonishing.

A Can of Worms Amidst Ongoing Investigations

It is disheartening that while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is already investigating the Mithi River desilting scam dating back to 2005, another financial scandal in the form of Mithi 3 is unfolding. With the state already struggling under an enormous debt and contractors awaiting payments worth thousands of crores, largely due to the government’s “Ladki Bahin” schemes, do we really need such an extravagant expenditure?

What Lies Ahead?

This is just the beginning of our exposé. In the upcoming series, we will further investigate how this tender has been systematically manipulated to serve vested interests. We urge the concerned authorities to take note and ensure that public funds are not squandered in a questionable and extravagant project that lacks transparency, feasibility, and public accountability. The citizens of Mumbai deserve better.

Stay tuned as we unravel more details in the coming days.

Vikrant Meena Hemant Joshi. 



Previous Post

एकनाथजी, दाग अच्छे है, सारे के सारे क्यो परेशान है

Next Post

 Desilting!! 

Vikrant Joshi

Vikrant Joshi

Last 14 years of writing have been ethical & fearless, wrote what no one knew and his blogs have been echoed in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra and made headlines of newspapers---that's Vikrant Hemant Joshi!

Next Post

 Desilting!! 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Vikrant Joshi

हेमंत जोशी

१९८० ते २०२० सतत ४० वर्ष ध्येयवादी, निर्भीड, निष्कलंक पत्रकारितेची. १९८० ते १९८२ २ वर्षे सुप्रसिद्ध दैनिकाचे जळगाव जिल्हा प्रतिनिधी म्हणून काम बघितले. त्यानंतर १९८२ ते आजतागायत न थांबता, खंड पडू न देता स्वतःचे राजकीय पाक्षिक जगभरातल्या मराठी वाचकांपर्यंत नेण्याचे यशस्वी कसबी हेमंत जोशी यांनी साधले. त्यांच्या राजकीय पत्रकारितेचा महाराष्ट्राच्या कानाकोपऱ्यात प्रचंड दबदबा आहे. ज्यांच्या लिखाणाची सतत ४० वर्षे कायम चर्चा असते, चर्चेतले पत्रकार अशी त्यांची ख्याती आहे. 

Vikrant Joshi

विक्रांत जोशी

Last 10 years of writing have been ethical & fearless, wrote what no one knew and his blogs have been echoed in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra and made headlines of newspapers---that's Vikrant Hemant Joshi!  

सर्वाधिक वाचलेल्या बातम्या

  • विस्कटली घडी राज्याची/ राजकारणाची…

    The Untold Story of the Fadnavis-Shinde coup !

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Aryan Shahrukh Khan….Naam Toh Suna Hoga!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CM Eknath Shinde and his entourage…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Will Maharashtra have a new CM?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ashwajit’s ‘Car’ nama…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Home
  • Sample Page

© 2021. Website maintain by Tushar Bhambare.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Bureaucracy
  • Corruption
  • Mantralaya
  • Adhiveshan
  • Social
  • Transfers

© 2021. Website maintain by Tushar Bhambare.