The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has withdrawn a tender worth nearly Rs 3 crore for proposed infrastructure improvements near the official residence of the Mumbai Mayor following a political dispute over the project. The civic body cited “administrative reasons/issues” in a corrigendum uploaded on the Maharashtra government’s e-procurement portal to cancel the tender.
The cancellation came hours after Mayor Ritu Tawde clarified that the proposed works were not related to the heritage Mayor’s bungalow but were planned for the surrounding premises of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Ranichi Baug, in Byculla.
The tender cancellation notice was uploaded at 7:17 pm on Wednesday. Earlier, Tawde had stated that she directed the administration to withdraw the tender after the document mentioned the “Mayor’s bungalow”, which created confusion despite the proposed works being unrelated to the residence.
She said the proposal was initiated by the BMC’s zoo department and covered development activities in the surrounding area. “I have said that the tender should be withdrawn as its document mentions the Mayor’s bungalow. They have accepted the fault and the tender will be withdrawn,” Tawde said.
The Mayor also clarified that she had not sought any renovation or improvement work at her official residence, which was recently refurbished at a cost of Rs 2.4 crore before she shifted there.
The disputed tender included works such as installing sound barriers and constructing container-based structures for a conference hall and other facilities. The proposal attracted criticism from opposition parties, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleging that public funds were being misused.
Rejecting the allegations, Tawde said the project belonged entirely to the BMC’s zoo department and had no connection with the Mayor’s residence. “This whole tender process doesn’t include the mayor’s bungalow. This tender is by the zoo department, which is not linked to the mayor’s bungalow,” she said.
Tawde further accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of spreading false narratives to “run their shop”.
Former Mumbai Mayor and BMC opposition leader Kishori Pednekar criticised Tawde over the controversy, alleging that she was “overstepping her authority”. She said repeated disputes involving the Mayor’s residence, staff appointments and official vehicle had affected the dignity of the office.
“Mumbai deserves a Mayor who speaks for the city’s civic concerns, not one who is repeatedly caught in avoidable controversies,” she said.
Source: CNBC TV18
