Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted faulty tendering as a primary cause of delays in infrastructure projects during a workshop on project execution in Pune, stressing the need for a comprehensive 360-degree planning approach from the outset. He pointed out that while Maharashtra leads the nation with 49 percent of overall projects as per a 2019 Deutsche Bank report, around 40 percent remain incomplete, often due to inadequate assessment of contractors' capacities and external pressures influencing tender conditions.

Fadnavis cited the Mumbai-Goa Highway as a key example where poor tendering led to prolonged setbacks, urging better inter-departmental coordination using tools like Gati Shakti to ensure accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

The Mumbai-Goa Highway, a 470 km four-lane expansion project aimed at reducing travel time from 12 to 6 hours, has faced repeated hurdles since its inception in 2010, with faulty tenders contributing to cost overruns exceeding Rs 6,000 crore and multiple contractor changes. As of mid-2025, about 80 percent of the work is complete, but sections in the ghat areas remain pending due to environmental clearances and land acquisition issues, impacting tourism and trade in the Konkan region.

Fadnavis noted Maharashtra's progress in mega projects over the last decade, including the successful completion of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) in 2024, which showcases improved execution when planning is robust.

Broader challenges in Maharashtra's infrastructure include stalled initiatives like the Pune Ring Road and various metro extensions, where tender irregularities have led to legal disputes and inflated budgets, with the state reporting over Rs 1 lakh crore in pending works as per recent audits.

Fadnavis advocated for stricter contractor evaluations to prevent such failures, aligning with national goals under the PM Gati Shakti scheme launched in 2021 to streamline multi-modal connectivity. This push comes amid Maharashtra's ambitious Rs 10 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline for 2025-30, focusing on roads, railways, and urban mobility to boost economic growth.

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Experts suggest that reforming tender processes could save billions, drawing lessons from successful models in states like Gujarat, where digital tendering has reduced delays by 30 percent. Fadnavis's remarks underscore the government's commitment to timely completions, potentially influencing upcoming bids for projects like the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor.

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