Dharavi Project to Adani | BJP State governments reduced to ATM machines for PM Modi’s cronies, says Jairam Ramesh

The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Maharashtra government formally awarding the Dharavi Redevelopment project to an Adani Group firm.

The Congress on July 15 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.

Watch | All about the Dharavi Redevelopment Project

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 ₹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 Eknath 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 ₹10,000 crore to ₹20,000 crore to exclude the previous winner and to allow payment in installments that eased the path for the cash-strapped Adani Group," Mr. Ramesh said.