PCMC Standing Committee Delays Approval for Rs50 Crore Statue Project Amid Irregularity Allegations
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) standing committee has decided to withhold clearance of a Rs50 crore proposal for works related to the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue in Moshi. This decision comes in response to allegations of irregularities and inflated tender costs, with committee members opting to conduct a site inspection before proceeding further.
Allegations of Inflated Tender Costs and Favoritism
During the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, Shiv Sena corporator and committee member Sulbha Ubale raised serious concerns regarding the civil and electrical works tenders for the project. Ubale alleged that the tenders were accepted at higher rates, potentially to benefit a specific vendor.
"While tenders for several other works were accepted below the quoted amount, those related to this project were either at par with or above the quoted rates. I raised objections when the proposal came up for approval in the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, and another member supported it," Ubale stated.
Sources within the civic body revealed that BJP's Sandip Kaspate backed Ubale's demand, prompting standing committee chairman Abhishek Barne to agree that the proposal would only be approved after committee members visit the project site.
Project Details and Financial Implications
The PCMC has already expended approximately Rs52 crore on the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue project. This includes Rs32 crore for the bronze statue itself and Rs20 crore allocated for supporting infrastructure. The additional Rs50 crore under consideration is intended for various civil and electrical works, beautification efforts, and other facilities within the statue premises.
A senior PCMC official elaborated, "The proposal also includes an audio-visual presentation facility at the site. The project is set to be completed in November this year."
Political and Administrative Context
Ubale emphasized that while the municipal corporation is not opposed to the statue project, the tender process must be transparent and free from irregularities. She noted that the PCMC is currently managing liabilities from previously announced projects, and the newly elected civic body is exploring avenues to enhance revenue. Awarding works for the statue project at inflated rates would be unjust under these circumstances.
The decision to defer approval is viewed as a setback for the BJP, particularly for Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge, who has championed the project as a key initiative initiated during the administrative rule. However, a senior BJP office-bearer, speaking anonymously, clarified that the project has not been stalled entirely.
"Only the approval for some work has been deferred to the next meeting, and it will be cleared soon," the official assured.
Quality Concerns and Project Specifications
Earlier, questions regarding the statue's quality emerged after members of the NCP (SP) in Pune released photographs of its components prior to installation. The civic administration has since clarified that there are no quality issues, affirming that the bronze statue was crafted by renowned sculptor Ram Sutar.
The project involves the construction of a 140-foot statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Moshi, which is touted as the tallest statue of the Maratha ruler globally. The site inspection by standing committee members aims to address the allegations and ensure that all procedures are followed correctly before any further financial commitments are made.
