In the latest political tussle over Mumbai’s Coastal Road project, former Congress leader and current member of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Milind Deora, has hit back at Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray’s allegations against the BJP-led government. Thackeray had accused the regime of prioritizing political gains and contractor interests over citizen welfare by planning to install large hoardings in newly developed open spaces along the coastal road.
Thackeray had raised concerns over several issues, including project delays, escalated costs, and a lack of communication with local representatives and residents regarding landscaping and gardening plans. “The BJP-Mindhe regime only cares for khokes and contractors, not the citizens!” Thackeray asserted, promising to remove the hoardings and hold officials accountable if his party came to power.
Responding to Thackeray’s criticisms, Milind Deora took to Twitter to defend the government’s actions and achievements. “Aaditya, instead of writing love letters to the @mybmc Commissioner on random issues, present a real agenda for #Mumbai’s development,” Deora tweeted. He emphasized the significant infrastructure progress under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, contrasting it with what he described as Thackeray’s stalling of key projects like the Mumbai Metro.
Highlighting a major green initiative, Deora stated, “Mumbai will get the biggest public park at #Mahalaxmi Racecourse, replacing your 2013 theme park idea with unprecedented green cover.” He advised Thackeray to focus on his constituency in Worli, where Deora claimed Thackeray’s unpopularity was evident, referencing the narrow lead of Thackeray’s candidate in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
This exchange underscores the sharp political divide and competing visions for Mumbai’s development. As the debate over the Coastal Road project continues, citizens are keenly watching the promises and actions of their leaders, hoping for a transparent and effective resolution to the city’s infrastructural challenges.
