Pressure to probe tainted US firm’s Mumbai projects

MUMBAI: Pressure is building on the state to probe Louis Berger’s contracts for Mumbai projects (Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle monorail and the multi-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport) following recent revelations that the US-based construction management consultants allegedly bribed officials in India to secure contracts.
BJP legislator from Kandivli Atul Bhatkhalkar, in a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, said even the comptroller and auditor-general (CAG) has pointed out irregularities and mismanagement by that company while preparing cost estimates for the monorail project.A copy of the letter is with TOI.
“The company has admitted that its officials bribed many Indian officials and ministers to secure projects. The New Jersey-based company has offices in various cities, including Mumbai, and bagged the project management consultant contract for the monorail and Navi Mumbai airport projects,” he said.
Bhatkhalkar said that the CAG, in its report to state assembly early this year, had pointed out irregularities in the monorail project.
The monorail contract was granted by the Congress-NCP regime, when Vilasrao Deshmukh and later Ashok Chavan were chief ministers.
The company could not be contacted for comment.