French Firm Systra Alleges Corruption in Mumbai Metro Consultancy

French consultancy firm Systra accuses MMRDA officials of corruption and undue favours, prompting court intervention. MMRDA's notice discontinuing Systra's contract was quashed, and the firm alleges harassment and unpaid dues. The Bombay High Court deemed MMRDA's actions arbitrary, demanding a review and fair decision.

French consultancy firm Systra has made serious accusations against officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), alleging corruption and harassment. The contentious issue led to the Bombay High Court quashing MMRDA's termination of Systra's contract. The High Court instructed MMRDA to reassess their decision, emphasizing fairness and transparency.

Systra claims the MMRDA officials engaged in corrupt practices, sought undue favours, and delayed payments amounting to Rs 30 crore. Allegations include pressures to inflate orders and impose arbitrary penalties. The French Embassy intervened, urging the Maharashtra government to address these allegations after Systra's complaints.

Despite multiple requests, MMRDA officials remained unavailable for comment. The case underscores concerns over governance in infrastructure projects, with the court ruling MMRDA's actions as 'arbitrary' and 'unreasonable'. A fresh decision from MMRDA was demanded following procedural fairness considerations.