Maharashtra CM Pushes for Criminal Charges Against Contractors Over Mumbai-Goa Highway Mishaps

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed pending work on the Mumbai-Goa Highway ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He urged officials to file culpable homicide charges against contractors responsible for shoddy work that resulted in fatal accidents. Shinde plans to discuss the issue with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday conducted a review of the pending work on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in preparation for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He emphasized the need to hold contractors accountable for shoddy work that led to fatal road accidents, advocating for charges of culpable homicide against them.

Speaking at the Kashedi tunnel on the national highway, Shinde highlighted the poor quality of work by some contractors, which resulted in loss of lives. He stressed that mere blacklisting was insufficient and insisted on criminal charges. Shinde plans to raise this issue with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to ensure such contractors are prevented from bidding on major infrastructure projects.

The CM also noted the use of advanced technology to repair damaged stretches of the highway and minimize inconvenience for travelers during the festival. Despite efforts, some sections of the highway are still in need of improvement, causing continued hardship for commuters.

(With inputs from agencies.)