Parties unite, call for audit to check E-way's feasibility

Mumbai: The demand for a third-party feasibility audit of ambitious Samruddhi Mahamarg project is growing. Baban Harne, who is leading the farmers’ agitation against land acquisition for the project, has demanded a third-party feasibility audit of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pet project.

“Mr (Radheshyam) Mopalwar finalised alignment of the project. Now, we have seen this whole controversy surrounding him. In this backdrop, it would be important to have an audit of the project,” said Mr Harne. He also alleged that the alignment of the road was finalised for the benefit of a few officers and their relatives, who had bought land near the project site and they would benefit from the rise in the price of the land. He insisted on a feasibility audit of the report so that the need for the project could be examined. Principal opposition parties Congress and Nationalist Congress Party  have also supported the demand.

CM Devendra Fadnavis sacked Managing Director of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Radheshyam Mopalwar last week over charges of graft against him. Opposition parties had demanded Mr Mopalwar’s removal after an alleged tape of his conversation with an agent came to fore. In the alleged audio clip of Mr Mopalwar, two people are talking about a plot of land, and one is convincing the other to pay a bribe in Mantralaya to get work done.

“I had complained to revenue secretary about how the alignment of the road is influenced by officers’ lobby in the state. Many officers have bought land near the road. Mr Mopalwar had worked for them. After recent controversy about Mr Mopalwar’s tapes, it is necessary to look at the project from the beginning,” said Mr Harne. Mr Harne said that he would also hand over a letter to CM’s office on Monday, demanding a third-party feasibility audit.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “From day one, we are saying that push for this E-way is suspicious. Officers from CMO are involved in this. This project must be audited by reputed private institution so that people would get to know the reality.”

Even BJP’s alliance partner in the state and MP Raju Shetti has supported the demand.