Mumbai: Despite floating bids for the construction of the 350-foot-long Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA has revealed that it has not yet started selling the bids as crucial reports like the detailed project report (DPR) and master plan are still not ready.
The MMRDA, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, floated bids on a 12-acre plot in Indu Mills at an estimated cost of Rs 550 crore but it has been unable to sell the bids to the contractors as it needs to submit the DPR and master plan for contractors to understand the project.
This has led to allegations that the entire exercise of floating bids on April 14 was an eyewash by the Chief Minister, an attempt to gain political mileage and woo the Dalit community.
Anandraj Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, said, “The Dalit community is being misguided. It is very clear that there is a trust deficit on the intentions of the state government regarding the construction of the memorial. I demand that the state government form a committee that consists of members from among Ambedkar’s followers, who will ensure that the construction is handled with sensitivity.”
In a reply to a Right To Information (RTI) query seeking the DPR and master plan, the MMRDA has said, “The government of Maharashtra has constituted a single member committee for finalising the master plan and the committee has submitted its report based on the concept plan of the Memorial.”
It further said, “The documents are in the process and the information sought will be available shortly on the MMRDA website.
However, public information officer, Pournima Dhere stated: “The drafts too are in the process and cannot be shared and if the reply of RTI is not satisfactory, the applicant should file a first appeal.”
Meanwhile, Pravin Darade, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA said, “The process is well on track and we will complete the bidding process soon and start construction from October.”
