Pune News: C In a bold accusation against the BJP-led Mahayuti government, the Congress party has claimed that the outgoing administration is embroiled in a scam involving approximately ₹10,000 crore in the Pune ring road project. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is overseeing the project, which is now under scrutiny due to alleged financial discrepancies.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera stated, “The original project was estimated to cost ₹10,087 crore; however, the Mahayuti government has approved a staggering budget of ₹20,990 crore—more than double the initial cost. This raises serious concerns about misappropriation of public funds.” He assured that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would investigate the matter thoroughly and initiate legal action against those implicated once back in power. (Pune News)
According to Khera, the Mahayuti government has greenlit eight projects within the Pune ring road initiative, allocating four projects each to two private companies. He highlighted that MSRDC guidelines stipulate that a company can only be awarded a maximum of two packages, raising questions about compliance and favoritism. “This apparent violation seems designed to benefit specific companies in exchange for financial support to the ruling party,” Khera added.
The Congress has previously unveiled allegations of an electoral bond scam, and Khera suggested that a similar scheme is now unfolding in Maharashtra under BJP’s leadership. He further criticized the alterations made to contractor requirements in the tender process, pointing out that experience in tunnel construction was mandated despite most Pune ring road projects involving less than ten percent tunnel work. (Pune Ring Road News)
“Comparatively, the estimated cost for the Pune ring road is double that of similar projects executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other state governments,” Khera noted.
Concerns regarding the project’s cost have also been echoed by NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule and legislator Rohit Pawar, who questioned the rationale behind the state government’s approval of the inflated budget.
In response, Keshav Upadhye, the chief spokesperson for the state BJP, dismissed the allegations as unfounded. “The Congress party often misrepresents facts. Their baseless claims mirror the style of their leader, Rahul Gandhi. If they possess any evidence, they should take it to court,” Upadhye stated.
BJP leader Sandeep Khardekar explained that the original estimate for the Pune ring road was prepared two years ago and that subsequent fluctuations in material and service rates had significantly impacted the costs. He added that technical adjustments to the project’s alignment and additional features, recommended by the Union Ministry of Roads, contributed to the revised budget. Khardekar also mentioned that issues concerning land acquisition for farmers have been addressed.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes will be on how this situation develops in the lead-up to the upcoming elections, with the Pune ring road project at the center of political contention.
