Mumbai: CM Devendra Fadnavis said the inquiry into irregularities in the tender process held by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for procurement of buses on lease will be completed within a month.
The issue of a loss of Rs 1,700 crore to the corporation due to the tender process was raised in the legislative council on Wednesday by MLC Rajesh Rathod. Fadnavis said the tender process was completed and work orders issued at the corporation-level through collusion with contractors. Action would be taken against those guilty within a month.
“Work orders for the tender process to acquire 1,310 buses were issued when govt formation was underway after the Nov 2024 assembly polls. A full cabinet was not in place. At the time, I was holding all portfolios. I knew that the dy CM handled the issue, and I asked him if he approved it. He told me he did not approve the proposal. I too did not. This would have resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 1,700 crore. I directed the chief secretary to stay the proposal and order an inquiry,” he said. —Clara Lewis