On Tuesday, Aaditya Thackeray criticized the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis for major scams, budget overruns, and delays affecting crucial infrastructure projects in Mumbai, intensifying his remarks ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
In a discussion with CNBC-TV18, the senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the current administration of inflating and poorly executing road projects. He stated that in 2023 alone, two road packages amounting to ₹6,080 crore were announced, yet minimal work had progressed.
“When I revealed this during a press conference, the project cost swiftly dropped from ₹6,080 crore to ₹5,000 crore within two days, indicating potential wrongdoing,” Thackeray expressed.
He further noted that despite new allocations in the following year, advancement remained scarce. “In the two packages introduced, not even 5% of the work has been completed,” he said, referencing deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, and invited him to jointly inspect roads throughout the city to highlight actual spending results.
Thackeray also brought attention to delays and rising costs in significant infrastructure developments, such as the Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, which he claimed has severely affected residents in the western suburbs. He attributed these setbacks to issues with contractors and failures in governance, leading to extensive traffic jams.
Comparing past and current administrations, he mentioned the coastal road project. The southbound coastal road, designed and executed by the previous Shiv Sena-led government, was completed on time, whereas the northbound coastal road under the present government has faced numerous contractor switches since 2015, ongoing cost hikes, and little progress. “Only the pillars have begun to emerge now,” he stated.
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Thackeray also challenged the political narrative propagated by the ruling BJP, especially its critiques of foreign countries regarding democratic practices. “What significance do Americans or British people have for Mumbai?” he inquired, calling for a shift back to local governance and accountability.
These comments come in advance of elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, set for January 15, with vote counting the following day. Key campaign topics are shaping up to include infrastructure development, roads, and urban governance.
