Aditya targets Shinde over cancellation of tender

The Shiv Sena (Ubatha) on Saturday demanded the removal of state Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from his post after Maharashtra agency MMRDA decided to cancel the tender process for two major infrastructure projects in Thane. The Congress, on the other hand, demanded a judicial probe into all major infrastructure projects in the state in the wake of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) decision and alleged large-scale corruption in it. MMRDA is headed by Urban Development Minister Shinde. Addressing a press conference here, Shiv Sena MLA Aditya Thackeray said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should order an inquiry against Shinde by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of police, Enforcement Directorate (ED) or Income Tax Department. On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress unit chief Harshvardhan Sapkal demanded a judicial probe into all mega infrastructure projects in the state and alleged large-scale corruption. The Congress leader claimed that there was corruption of Rs 3,000 crore in the Ghodbunder-Bhayander tunnel project and the Mumbai Elevated Road Project. The MMRDA had told the Supreme Court on Friday that it was cancelling two tenders related to the Gaimukh-Ghodbunder-Bhayander project and would start the process of inviting fresh bids to ‘protect the larger public interest’. The Supreme Court is hearing a petition by infrastructure construction giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) challenging the MMRDA’s decision to disqualify it from bidding for the projects.