The ambitious ₹2,099-crore Kharghar–Turbhe Tunnel Road (KTLR) project – awarded by CIDCO to M/s Rithwik Projects Pvt. Ltd. — has come under intense scrutiny, with activists, journalists, and citizen groups alleging tender irregularities, missing statutory clearances, and repeated violations of the Right to Information Act.
Despite months of written complaints, RTI appeals, and public representations, CIDCO has not issued any formal clarification. The silence has deepened public suspicion around one of Navi Mumbai’s most sensitive and high-value infrastructure projects.
A Trail of Complaints, RTIs, and Appeals
Over recent months, multiple news portals, activists, and civic organisations have filed complaints highlighting:
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Alleged manipulation in the tender evaluation process
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Suspected forged or unverifiable contractor credentials
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Absence of mandatory Environmental and Forest Clearances
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Preliminary site activities without statutory permissions
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Systematic suppression of RTI information
Senior journalist Brahmanand R. Tiwari, Editor-in-Chief of EX7 News, has been at the forefront of these complaints, filing:
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Multiple RTI applications
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First and Second Appeals before the State Information Commission (Konkan)
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Letters to CIDCO’s VC&MD, Chief Vigilance Officer, CAO, and senior engineers
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Complaints before SEIAA, MPCB, the Forest Department, and the Maharashtra Government
Tiwari states that CIDCO has failed to respond despite the expiry of statutory RTI deadlines.
Tender Evaluation Under a Cloud
Documents reviewed by this newsroom show that complainants have questioned:
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How technical scores were awarded
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How Rithwik Projects emerged as L1
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Whether experience certificates were independently verified
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Whether due diligence checks were completed
Procurement experts note that refusal to disclose evaluation files often raises red flags.
A retired tendering official remarked:
“When an authority withholds tender evaluation sheets even under RTI, the suspicion of irregularity is natural. The law requires proactive transparency.”
Missing Environmental & Forest Clearances: A Serious Concern
Representations submitted to SEIAA, MPCB, and the Forest Department point to the possible absence of:
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Environmental Clearance (EC)
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Forest Clearance (FC)
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Tree-felling permission
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MPCB Consent to Establish
Given that the tunnel passes through the Kharghar hill region, such clearances are mandatory under:
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The Environment Protection Act, 1986
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The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
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The Maharashtra Tree Act, 1975
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MPCB regulations
Activists say these documents have not been provided despite repeated RTI requests.
If true, experts warn that initiating tunnelling work without these clearances would constitute a serious statutory violation.
Financial Red Flags
Some complaints also raise concerns about:
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Payments allegedly processed without progress verification
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Possible bill clearances before statutory approvals
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Weak oversight mechanisms
Activists have requested the Principal Accountant General (Audit) to conduct a special review of the project.
These claims remain unverified but have raised legitimate doubts about financial transparency.
RTI Suppression: Activists Call It ‘Deliberate Non-Compliance’
RTI applicants allege:
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No replies from the PIO
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No orders issued by the First Appellate Authority
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Excessive photocopying fees demanded
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Denial of digital documents despite availability
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Missing Section 4(1)(b) disclosures on CIDCO’s website
Legal experts state that such practices violate the RTI Act’s transparency requirements, especially for a ₹2,099-crore public project.
CIDCO Silent on Complaints
According to activists and reporters:
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Emails
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Written complaints
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RTI requests
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Follow-up reminders
have been sent to CIDCO’s VC&MD, Chief Engineer (NMIA & SP), PIO, CVO, FA/CAO, and other officials.
As of publication, CIDCO has not issued a public statement addressing any of the allegations.
Why This Project Requires Full Transparency
The Kharghar–Turbhe Tunnel Road is crucial for:
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International Corporate Park (ICP) access
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Reducing travel time between Kharghar and Turbhe
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Mobility inside Navi Mumbai’s upcoming financial district
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A large tunnel cutting through a forested hill range
Given its geographical sensitivity and massive cost, experts insist on:
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Full disclosure of tender and clearance files
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Transparency in payments
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Independent inspections
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Third-party audits
Activists Demand SIT or Vigilance Inquiry
Citizen groups and journalists have called on:
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CIDCO Vigilance
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Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)
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Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
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Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department
to investigate:
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The tendering process
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Environmental compliance
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Financial transactions
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RTI suppression
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Alleged procedural violations
High Public Funds, High Accountability
Given that the project uses over ₹2,099 crore of taxpayer money, legal experts warn that, if irregularities are established later, both officials and contractors could face scrutiny under:
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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for fraud, forgery, conspiracy)
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Prevention of Corruption Act
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Environmental and Forest laws
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RTI Act — Section 20 penalties
The Road Ahead
Unless CIDCO releases:
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Tender evaluation sheets
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Letters of Award (LoA)
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All Environmental and Forest clearances
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Third-party audit reports
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Payment and progress details
public suspicion will continue to grow.
For now, the Kharghar–Turbhe Tunnel Road project stands as one of Navi Mumbai’s most controversial and questioned infrastructure contracts — with activists and journalists asserting that the silence of authorities only strengthens public doubts.
