MMRDA and IAS transfers….
Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) or MCube is without a permanent Managing Director (MD) today. The organisation was led by its Managing Director D. K. Sharma. His appointment was done by then Devendra Fadnavis government in 2018 and the board comprising then CS Ajoy Mehta, MMRDA Commissioner R A Rajeev and MD DMRC Manguram. These people had interviewed Sharma and handed over him the operations of Mumbai Metro once the selection process was complete. But then the MVA Government came into power and there was NO extension granted to Sharma. For your kind information, SVR Srinivas, the current MMRDA commissioner has taken this MD post as an additional charge. Heard one of the Directors at the MCube, Meshram, is an important personality there. For many recruitments at important posts, a consent from Meshram is necessary, it is said behind closed doors. But my moot question remains why an able D K Sharma was removed in the first place? As per what intel I could gather, Sharma was brought to this important MMMCOL and it was his dream to make the operations smoother than the Delhi metro, which Sharma and team succeeded to a large extent. Then why didn’t the Government continue with him? Sharma’s appointment was done for 3 years (2018-2021) with a clause of extension for 2 years as decided by the then DF/UD government and board. But till the last day of completion of his 3 year tenure in 2021, Sharma was not informed as a meeting needs to be called by the Commissioner MMRDA and a call has to be taken whether extension has/has not to be given. Obviously it was not taken for reasons best known to the Commissioner. Was he interested in the operations of the metro also, the same way currently he is (MMRDA) is in concretisation of Mumbai roads? Remember how he wanted a pie from CIDCO too for generating revenue, but then the proposal was shown the bin.
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MMRDA itself is going through its worst financial crises. They don’t even have money to pay salaries on time. A source said MMRDA had made this one FD worth Rs. 300 crores which was kept as contingency. The source added that the day MMRDA breaks this Fixed Deposit receipt of Rs. 300 crores, Vikrant, remember it is time-up for the organisation. Readers, this FD is now broken. Reasons are bogus administration, delay in projects, cost escalations, mounting interests and unnecessary promises made to ‘Vahini’ of Rs. 125 crores by someone back in the day. So no productive work happens and the motivation of all officers is at all time low. By the way, as per grapevine, SVR Srinivas’s name is in contention to become the BMC Commissioner. Gazab isn’t it? Names of Sanjeev Jaiswal or Anil Diggikar are doing the rounds of becoming the MMRDA Commissioner. Remember na readers when Diggikar was made Mhada CEO, it was told to him that it is a stop-gap arrangement, his final stop was MMRDA commissioner. I think they might reward him (if they decide to keep the promise), but Jaiswal’s name in the race of MMRDA commissioner is a bit too much, as sources say there are many seniors in the contention. They who? Surprise, surprise! Dr. Nitin Kareer or Milind Mhaiskar’s names apart from SVR Srinivas is doing the rounds if and only if this government decides to change the BMC Commissioner. But a little birdie tells me that ‘Thane wala bhai’ has given confirmation to both SVR Srinivas and Iqbal Singh Chahal for the next 3 months of not being disturbed from their current postings. So let’s see.
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Next in line and top contention for the post is that of the CEO-MIDC. As far as I know right Parag Jain Nainuttia (Hope I have spelt it correctly 😜) to Saurabh Rao to Abhishek Krishna to Vikram Kumar to Pravin Darade to Tukaram Mundhe all are in the race to become the CEO. Ultimately it will be the DCM and the CM who will take the final call so no need to meet any relatives or Minister of the department. But Vikram Kumar might win the race. We will have a new DG at the DGIPR office at Mantralaya too. Deepak Kapoor has become ACS. And important portfolios like irrigation and PWD are with another IAS but they are holding it as additional charges or vice-versa. Cidco won’t see a change for some time now. SRA CEO will be changed. Mopalwar like Gagrani will handle both important assignments. With being an advisor, Mopalwar will continue to head the MSRDC. Likes of Ashwini Joshi will be given another important portfolio. In fact when Devendra Fadnavis came back, many IAS and IPS met him personally at his Sagar bunglow. It is said there he hinted to many IAS that few departments are directly doing the work of the PMO; so those who are desperately looking for a change, first finish the job and then plan to change. Sanjay Khandare will go from the MSEDCL; Dinesh Waghmare will continue and nothing is decided for Vijay Singhal. Dr. P. Anbalgan will be given a crucial responsibility soon.
In Pune both the Commissioner and Collector will be changed. Shravan Hardikar can come as the Municipal Commissioner and Pune might see a Lady Collector in the coming days. Heard the new Mahiwal guy in PMRDA loves his brother-in-law very much. Will have to ask Rahul Mahiwal as it is said he never travels without him for any meetings. Lucky charm may be, huh ! UD 1 remains with Bhushan Gagrani but he has also now moved to the CMO. So UD 1 also remains vacant and a dream post for many but most probably Gagrani will handle both. UD 2 is with Sonia Sethi. Hope she is coming here regularly and motivated as it is said she had a turbulent time when she was at the MMRDA. But in all reality, I really feel for Ashwini Bhide. Only making her boss for Mumbai Metro is not justifiable to her. A little birdie says, she was promised MMRDA as a whole.- Rest here and there few changes will happen but in due course of time.
Now someone please confirm this to me. CM Shinde has clear instructions to every liaison to not get involved in any IAS/IPS transfers. But I hear a team of 3 MLA’s has been formed to look into every transfer and the ‘pool’ will get divided amongst them only as they couldn’t become the Ministers. One of the MLA in fact bought a flat opposite the Air-India building (Churchgate) for Rs. 7.50 crores. Is this information true or will every IAS also need to meet someone at the bungalow as it is happening currently. Aahista Aahista Rakho ‘Kadam’ at the bungalow Saab…☺️😉
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
