Mumbai, June 6
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal has demanded that the state government should release a white paper on the corruption involved in the development of 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway or Samruddhi Mahamarg.
"The Devendra Fadnavis government is patting itself on the back after inaugurating the final phase of the Samruddhi Expressway, but this project has become a breeding ground for corruption. The cost of the project, originally estimated at Rs 55,000 crore, has escalated to Rs 70,000 crore. The inflated cost of Rs 15,000 crore points to massive corruption. If the government has any ethical standards left, it should release a white paper on the Samruddhi Expressway project," Sapkal said on Thursday.
Reacting to the inauguration of the final phase of the Samruddhi Expressway, the Maharashtra Congress President said that corruption worth Rs 3,000 crore was exposed in the Ghodbunder-Bhayander tunnel and elevated road project. The government was forced to cancel the tender only after the Supreme Court's intervention.
"Just like the Ghodbunder-Bhayander project, there has been large-scale corruption in the Samruddhi Expressway as well, from which close aides of Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have profited immensely. The "50 khoke, ekdum okay" (50 boxes, all okay) scandal was funded by the corruption money from this project. The Samruddhi Expressway is essentially a highway of corruption," he alleged.
Sapkal demanded that the state government should present a full account through a white paper, detailing how much money was spent, the cost of each bridge, per-kilometre construction expenses, compensation paid to farmers for land acquisition, payments to contractors, costs for tree plantation, and revenue being collected through tolls.
He also said that due to poor construction quality, many portions of the expressway have already developed cracks.
"Since the expressway became operational, numerous accidents have occurred, leading to multiple deaths and hundreds of injuries. The Samruddhi Expressway has only served to enrich a select few from the ruling party. There must be a thorough investigation of the corruption involved in this project," he emphasised.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Corruption allegations on infrastructure projects are becoming too common in Maharashtra. While the expressway is impressive, cost escalation of ₹15,000 crore does raise eyebrows. The government should be transparent - if there's nothing to hide, why not release a white paper? 🤔
As someone who frequently uses this expressway, I must say it has reduced travel time significantly. But yes, I've noticed uneven surfaces at some stretches. Instead of political mudslinging, we need accountability. Both ruling party and opposition should focus on quality infrastructure, not just scoring points.
Typical opposition tactics! When they can't match development work, they cry corruption. The expressway has boosted connectivity between Mumbai and Vidarbha. Cost escalation happens in all mega projects due to inflation and land acquisition challenges. Congress should present proof instead of vague allegations.
The real issue is whether farmers got fair compensation for their lands. Infrastructure is important, but not at the cost of exploiting rural communities. If there's corruption in land deals, it's the poorest who suffer most. Government must address this aspect specifically.
Why only target this project? All parties have skeletons in their closet. What we need is an independent audit mechanism for all infrastructure projects above ₹1000 crore. The system needs reform, not selective outrage. Also, better safety measures are needed on this expressway - too many accidents! �
As a Nagpur resident, I'm grateful for this connectivity. But corruption allegations can't be brushed aside. The "50 khoke" reference is serious - if there's evidence, it should go to courts rather than press conferences. Public projects must be clean projects. Hope the truth comes out.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.