The civic body formally annulled the tender through a corrigendum posted on the Maharashtra government’s e-procurement portal, citing “administrative reasons/issues” as the cause.
The announcement of the cancellation came at 7:17 pm, just hours after the proposed works around the Mayor’s bungalow sparked a political uproar.
Earlier that day, Tawde informed reporters she had directed the civic administration to annul the approximately ₹3 crore tender since it referred to the “Mayor’s bungalow,” even though the proposed works were not associated with the residence.
She stated that the tender originated from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s zoo department, and the works intended to be carried out were meant for the surrounding area, not the mayoral bungalow itself.
“I requested that the tender be withdrawn because its document references the Mayor’s bungalow. They have recognized the error, and the tender will be cancelled,” Tawde declared.
She emphasized that she had not requested any upgradation work at her official residence, which was recently renovated at a cost of ₹2.4 crore prior to her moving in.
The mayor’s residence is situated at a corner of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo, commonly referred to as Ranichi Baug (Queen’s garden), in Byculla, south Mumbai.
The tender proposed various upgrading works in the vicinity of the Mayor’s bungalow, including the construction and installation of container-based structures to accommodate a conference hall and other amenities, leading to criticism from the opposition.
As the political turmoil over the tender unfolded, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the administration of misusing public funds.
In response to the allegations, Tawde asserted that the tender, which encompassed works like the installation of sound barriers, fabrication, and installation of container-based facilities costing around ₹3 crore, was initiated by the BMC’s zoo department and was not related to the official residence of the mayor.
“This entire tender process has no connections to the mayor’s bungalow. This tender originates from the zoo department, which is distinct from the mayor’s bungalow,” she clarified.
Tawde reiterated that the intended works were associated with the premises surrounding the heritage structure, not the bungalow itself.
She accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of promoting misleading narratives to support their agenda.
Meanwhile, former Mumbai mayor and BMC opposition leader Kishori Pednekar claimed that the controversy exemplified Tawde “overstepping her bounds” instead of concentrating on critical civic matters.
She asserted that ongoing controversies regarding the Mayor’s official residence, staff appointments, and the official vehicle had tarnished the dignity of the constitutional office and distracted from the issues faced by citizens.
“Mumbai deserves a Mayor who advocates for the city’s civic issues, not one perpetually embroiled in unnecessary controversies,” she concluded.
