Maha government gives Modi’s crony Adani Dharavi project: Congress

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Maharashtra government formally awarding the Dharavi Redevelopment project to an Adani Group firm, alleging that BJP state governments have been reduced to “ATM machines for his cronies.”

A resolution released on Thursday by the Housing Development department of the Maharashtra government said the state cabinet had approved the outcome of the bidding process on December 22, 2022, following which the rights were awarded.

Adani Properties will be the lead partner in the project for which a special-purpose vehicle will be formed.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Devendra Fadnavis’ last act before handing over the housing department on Friday was to formally approve the Adani Group’s “shady takeover” of the Rs 5,069 crore Dharavi redevelopment project, which involves 600 acres of prime Mumbai land.

The project had originally been awarded to a different bidder, he said.

“After the original tender was cancelled due to a dispute, the Shinde-Fadnavis government performed amazing acrobatics to change the tender conditions to ensure that PM Modi’s closest friend was the only feasible winner.

“This included raising the minimum net worth needed to win the bid from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore to exclude the previous winner and to allow payment in instalments that eased the path for the cash-strapped Adani Group,” Ramesh said.