Audit Demanded as ₹22,000 Crore BMC Projects Raise Red Flags Over One Contractor's Monopoly

A rising chorus of civic voices is demanding greater accountability from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after revelations that infrastructure tenders totalling more than ₹22,000 crore may have been consistently awarded to a single contractor. The Watchdog Foundation, a prominent civic group, has alleged serious concerns over transparency, cost escalation, and monopolistic practices in BMC’s infrastructure planning. In a formal letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the Foundation questioned the repeated awarding of high-value projects to one contractor—pointing to five specific assignments, including the high-profile Madh-Versova flyover, whose cost has drawn particular scrutiny.

Initially floated at ₹1,800 crore, the flyover project’s price tag reportedly surged to ₹3,246 crore in just six months—representing a 60% increase. This means the two-kilometre bridge will cost ₹1,620 crore per kilometre, a rate that activists argue is massively inflated. They called attention to the fact that similar infrastructure projects elsewhere in India were completed at significantly lower costs. They cited Tamil Nadu’s Pamban Sea Bridge, built at ₹535 crore for 2.05 km, the 5 km Vasai-Bhayander Creek Bridge pegged at ₹1,501 crore, and the Thane Creek Bridge III at ₹775.58 crore for 3.1 km. In comparison, they argued, the Madh-Versova flyover’s cost appeared excessive and warranted immediate investigation.

The letter further raised eyebrows over the ₹11,333 crore Versova-Bandra Sea Link project. Originally awarded to a consortium, it has since come entirely under the control of the same contractor, following a transfer of ownership—a development activists say demands deeper inquiry, especially given that its cost also rose by 60% from its 2019 estimate. The civic group has demanded an independent, high-level audit of all BMC projects awarded to this contractor since 2023. They insist such a review should examine the justification for costs, the tendering process, and the escalation clauses invoked—particularly in the Madh-Versova Flyover contract.