Jijau Constructions Under Fire
• FIRs Ignored, Yet Awarded ₹40 Crore Contract
• Potholes, Fatalities and Fake Bills
• Citizens Demand White Paper and SIT Probe
Citizens led by activist Pramod Pawar launch an indefinite hunger strike over the crumbling Bhiwandi-Wada highway. Allegations of contractor scams, inflated crores in PWD contracts, and rising road deaths fuel demands for a white paper and SIT probe. Jijau Constructions, despite FIRs and scam allegations, was awarded a ₹40 crore contract even as potholes and road deaths mount.
The Bhiwandi-Wada highway in Thane has become a flashpoint of citizen anger after years of pothole-ridden roads, contractor scams, and mounting fatalities. Led by activist Pramod Pawar, locals have launched an indefinite hunger strike, demanding accountability, criminal action against corrupt contractors, and a government white paper exposing the financial trail.
Jijau Constructions: Highway Built, Toll Collected, But No Safety for Citizens
In 2010, Supreme Infrastructure Ltd was awarded the Bhiwandi-Wada highway contract under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. Despite toll collection and state payments, road maintenance collapsed. In 2019, citizen protests forced toll closure, but road conditions never improved.
Pawar alleges that contractors including Harshad Gandhe, Ambavane Constructions, Mayur Constructions, and Jijau Constructions (linked to fraud-accused director Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare) raised multi-crore bills without real repairs. “Funds were siphoned off while people kept dying on potholes,” Pawar wrote to the Thane District Collector.
Contractor Nexus Exposed: Deaths, FIRs, Yet More Contracts
On 31 August 2023, 22-year-old Akash Jadhav died in an accident caused by potholes. An FIR was filed at Ganeshpuri Police Station against directors of Jijau Constructions. Yet shockingly, on 6 August 2024, the same firm was awarded a fresh ₹40 crore concrete patchwork contract.
Pawar also revealed that Eagle Infrastructure secured an inflated ₹803 crore contract—raising serious suspicion of collusion between Public Works Department (PWD) officials and contractors. Sprouts SIT investigations confirm that these claims echo long-standing complaints raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Related Article: “Jijau” Name Abused in ₹600 Crore Road Scam Sparks Outrage.
Citizens’ Anger Reaches Boiling Point
Farmers say poor roads disrupt crop transport, students miss classes, patients are denied timely treatment, and job opportunities suffer. Fatalities include Dr. Neha Shaikh, youth activist Yash More, and multiple villagers, with many others permanently disabled.
Protesters have submitted a five-point charter of demands to the District Collector:
1.Immediate repairs of potholes and damaged sections.
2.Commencement of new approved road construction (especially at Varet, Dugad Phata, Mahapoli, Vishwabharati stretches).
3.Blacklisting of corrupt contractors and criminal action.
4.Independent quality audit of past and new works.
5.Issuance of a white paper detailing project expenditure, accidents, and compensation since 2019.
Legislative Promises, But No Action
On 31 December 2023, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Then-PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan admitted that Jijau Constructions (fraud contractor Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare) submitted fake bills and promised SIT inquiry and blacklisting. Despite this assurance, the firm continues to secure major contracts, deepening public mistrust.
Hunger Strike Gains Widespread Support
On 30 September 2025, Pawar began his indefinite hunger strike at Ambadi Naka, Bhiwandi. The protest has drawn support from political parties, social organisations, and local Gram Panchayats. Citizens chant slogans like “Rasta Haqacha, Nako Bhrashtachara” (Roads are our right, down with corruption).
Among prominent supporters are Kunbi Sena’s Vishwanath Patil, RashtraWadi leaders Ganesh Gulvi and Nilesh Bhoir, Ravana Group’s Bharat Jadhav, Aryan Foundation, Deva Group Foundation, and multiple Zilla Parishad members. Farmers, students, and women’s groups have joined in large numbers, swelling the protest.
District Administration Under Pressure
PWD engineers attempted to pacify Pawar and requested withdrawal of the strike. Pawar, however, has vowed:
“We will not retreat until the Superintendent Engineer personally announces blacklisting of corrupt contractors and a firm timeline for new road construction.”
What Lies Ahead
The protest has now become a test case for Maharashtra’s infrastructure accountability. Citizens are demanding not just pothole repair, but also full transparency in highway funding and contract allocation.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) will continue to track whether the state government issues the long-demanded white paper and takes concrete action against the contractor-official nexus.
