Aaditya Thackeray Critiques Mahayuti Government’s Rs 40,000 Crore Infrastructure Initiatives: Urges Investigation into Delays and Financial Oversight

In a significant critique of the recent decisions made by the tripartite Mahayuti government, Aaditya Thackeray, a prominent leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has raised serious concerns regarding the approval of infrastructure projects worth over ₹40,000 crore during the state cabinet meeting held on September 30. Thackeray described the government’s actions as a “buzzword for action” while highlighting the financial constraints and red flags raised by the finance department.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Thackeray posed pointed questions regarding the verification process undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) before approving these projects. “The PMO confirms the Prime Minister’s presence at an event only after obtaining detailed information. In this case, what information had the PMO sought, and had it verified whether all the necessary permissions had been obtained for the project?” he queried.

Thackeray specifically scrutinized the road concretisation project in Mumbai, noting that although the project was launched two years ago, only nine percent of the work had been completed, as revealed through Real-Time Location (RTL) data. “How could the Prime Minister inaugurate or grace groundbreaking ceremonies for such projects?” he asked, emphasizing the apparent lack of progress.

Moreover, Thackeray raised concerns about the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for the Thane-Borivali tunnel project. He pointed out that the contractor had provided a bank guarantee from a bank located in the West Indies, questioning whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had authorized such a guarantee. “Has the RBI allowed such a bank guarantee?” he asked, casting doubt on the propriety of the Prime Minister officiating at these events.

Turning his attention to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Thackeray criticized the slow progress of several projects, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak in the Arabian Sea, for which the ‘bhumi pujan’ was performed in 2017. “Nothing has moved further, except for cost escalation,” he lamented, indicating a broader issue of delays affecting metro works and other infrastructure initiatives.

Thackeray warned that once the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government returned to power, it would conduct a thorough investigation into these matters, ensuring accountability for the administrative heads of agencies involved.

Additionally, there are concerns regarding the escalating costs associated with the Thane-Borivali project. Initially pegged at ₹14,400 crore a few months ago, the state cabinet has now approved a revised budget of ₹18,800.40 crore, raising further questions about the project’s financial management.

As the debate over these infrastructure projects continues, Thackeray’s allegations highlight a growing tension between the current government and opposition leaders, with calls for transparency and accountability in the approval and execution of significant state projects.