Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab on Sunday alleged large-scale rigging and cartelisation in the Rs 90 crore Vikhroli FoB tender. Parab also claimed irregularities in tenders for other projects such as the BKC–Chunabhatti connector.In a letter to metropolitan commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, Parab demanded his immediate intervention to scrap the tenders. Mukherjee said he has asked MMRD”s director (projects) Basavaraj Bhadragond to enquire into the Vikhroli FoB tender and submit a report. On the Atal Setu fibre optic cable installation tender, Mukherjee said that telecom operators had requested to make the telecom infrastructure available free of charge and the issue was pending at the state govt level for a decision and so the tender had been put on hold to avoid third-party rights from being created if a contract is awarded. “MMRDA follows a transparent and robust tendering process, strictly adhering to CVC guidelines. All tenders undergo independent reputed third-party scrutiny to ensure fairness and compliance,” Mukherjee said.Parab alleged that the MMRDA has adopted a new modus operandi: float tenders, invite bids, pressure some bidders to withdraw, and then award contracts to a specific company. If this is not stopped, the issue will be taken up before the Lokayukta, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), and the legislature, he said.The MLC said that the Rs 90-crore Vikhroli FoB tender has not yet been opened even after two months of the tender closing. “Initially, six bidders had participated, but six were forced to withdraw under pressure. Now only two bidders remain, and MMRDA is preparing to award the tender to M/s Speco,” Parab said. He demanded that the tender be opened transparently in the presence of all or be cancelled and reissued. “The companies that withdrew should be blacklisted and their security deposits forfeited,” he added. “If the Vikhroli FoB tender is awarded to M/s Speco, the issue will be raised before the Lokayukta, the CVC, and in the upcoming legislative session,” Parab warned.Parab alleged that the Atal Setu fibre optic cable tender has been extended 8 to 10 times since Feb without any concrete reason. “These extensions were intended to benefit a specific company. A new modus operandi has started in MMRDA, where after issuing tenders, other bidders are forced to withdraw, and eventually the work is awarded to a specific company,” Parab said. Parab asked MMRDA to provide detailed information on all tenders floated since Jan 2026 that have been extended more than three times, including the name of the work, estimated cost, names of participating and withdrawn bidders, and the final contractor.
