September 8th 2023.
Rajul Patel, the former Shiv Sena corporator from the Behram Baug area in Jogeshwari West, has been left in a state of disbelief after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sought ₹34,000 from her to provide information on the city’s much-touted beautification project.
Patel, who won the election in 2017 and was on the standing committee as well as the health committee chairman in the BMC, expressed her shock at the exorbitant fee. She said, “How can a common person pay this kind of money to know what rightfully should be given when asked?”
In the RTI application, Patel had sought information on the breakup of developmental work, infrastructure and beautification works undertaken between April 2022 and March 2023 in the K-West ward from Andheri to Jogeshwari West. She also sought information on expenditure and details of work orders given to contractors and photographs of before and after work of wards 59 to 79.
The beautification project, which has a provision of ₹1700 crore, was undertaken last year on the direction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It includes painting and illumination works, which were affected by the heavy rainfall in July.
Despite the setbacks, the project has made steady progress with over 960 works completed. The BMC has also ensured that the earlier setbacks are addressed and that the project is completed on time. Even though the fee sought by the BMC seems unreasonable, Patel is hopeful that the project will be a success.
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