Contractors send second legal notice to Maharashtra govt over Rs 90,000-crore unpaid bills | Mumbai News

Pune: The Maharashtra unit of the Builders’ Association of India (BAI) has issued a second legal notice to state govt, demanding immediate payment of over Rs 90,000 crore in dues to contractors. The association has given govt a 15-day ultimatum, warning of approaching Bombay HC if their demands were not met.The reminder notice, dated July 2, was sent through BAI’s legal counsel and addressed to the CM, chief secretary, additional chief secretary (home) and senior officials across 26 govt departments. The first notice, sent earlier this year, received no response. “Contractors have completed works and raised bills, which have remained upaid. Many have borrowed heavily from banks to complete govt projects and now face default notices...The financial stress is pushing several of our members to the brink of bankruptcy. We urge govt to release the dues without any delay,” BAI said in a statement.The unpaid bills span a range of public works, from roads and bridges to irrigation and infrastructure projects, executed across state departments and local bodies.BAI members said as these dues remained unsettled, the state continued to float new tenders for infrastructure works worth thousand crores of rupees. “This is not just unfair, it is untenable. How can new tenders be floated when existing contractors haven’t been paid for completed works?” a senior BAI member asked.The association said it was prepared to file a petition in Bombay HC if govt did not take any concrete action. “We hoped the matter would be resolved through dialogue. But the silence from govt’s side leaves us with no option but to seek judicial intervention,” the member said.BAI has also appealed to the CM to convene a high-level meeting with all departments concerned to resolve the issue urgently.