BJP Plans Fountain Hotel Protest as Shiv Sena Opposes Mira-Bhayandar Bank Loan

A sharp political controversy has erupted in Mira-Bhayandar over a proposal by the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation to raise a loan from a private bank to pay contractors for cement-concrete road projects. BJP MLA Narendra Mehta has announced a road blockade protest at Fountain Hotel on August 10, accusing the state Urban Development Department of deliberately withholding approval for the borrowing, while Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has strongly opposed the plan.

The civic body undertook cement-concrete road projects across the city to solve persistent pothole issues. Facing a shortage of funds to clear contractor bills, the municipality proposed borrowing from a private bank. While the state government reportedly gave in-principle approval, the actual borrowing permission remains pending with the Urban Development Department.

Rejecting the BJP's allegations of deliberate delay, Sarnaik claimed the proposal requires mortgaging municipal properties to a private bank for up to 30 years. He stated that the Urban Development Department withheld immediate approval because mortgaging public assets for three decades is not appropriate. Sarnaik added that he opposed mortgaging municipal properties and has instead secured approval to obtain funding directly from the state government to complete the road works.

Sarnaik also levied serious allegations regarding payments owed to contractors awaiting clearance for completed road works. He alleged that contractors were being lured with promises of bill clearances, claiming that an individual named "Kothari" was demanding a 23% commission to facilitate payments.

Reiterating his opposition to the proposal, Sarnaik insisted that municipal assets should not be mortgaged for decades to finance road construction and maintained that government funds should cover the project costs.