MNS Leader Raju Patil Slams Dy CM Eknath Shinde Over Delay In ₹6,500 Crore Promise For Navi Mumbai Villages

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raju Patil has lashed out at Urban Development Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for failing to allocate the promised ₹6,500 crore for the development of 14 villages in Thane district, now part of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

In a strongly worded tweet, Patil accused the state government of betraying the trust of villagers, particularly those belonging to the Agri community, who d heavily for the Shinde-led party in recent elections. These 14 villages were re-included in Navi Mumbai in 2022 after being excluded from the municipal corporation due to political factors. Patil claims he played a key role in ensuring their re-inclusion while serving as an MLA.

At the time, then Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde had publicly promised phased funding of ₹6,500 crore over 5–6 years for developing basic civic infrastructure in the villages. However, Patil says no funds have been allocated to date.

Further stoking political tension, Patil revealed that senior minister and Navi Mumbai strongman Ganesh Naik is now opposing the inclusion of these villages into NMMC without the sanctioned funds. Patil supported Naik’s stand, stating that Navi Mumbai residents should not bear the burden of the additional development costs.

He also questioned why Shinde, who campaigned for his son using this very issue as a poll plank during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, is now silent. “Is this how you repay the Agri community that backed you?” Patil asked in his tweet.

Citing a recent Bombay High Court observation on the Thane Ghodbunder Road and tunnel project—where Megha Engineering’s bid was found to be ₹3,000 crore less than expected—Patil urged Shinde to redirect the savings toward the development of the 14 villages.

“If you don’t fulfill your commitment, your repeated mention of ‘Bhumiputra’ will be nothing but hollow rhetoric,” Patil warned.