Overview
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation proposed replacing six recently issued Mahindra Scorpio SUVs with Toyota Innova Crystas at an estimated cost of about ₹1.5 crore, citing complaints about rough rides and back pain.
- Following public criticism and comments from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BMC began re-evaluating the proposal and has not finalized any purchase or lease.
- BJP group leader Ganesh Kankhar wrote to the municipal commissioner denying any request for premium cars and said the party will continue using the allotted Scorpios.
- The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena sent toy Innova models to the BMC as a symbolic protest but civic officials say the commissioner's office did not accept or record the parcel.
- Officials say the change could have been arranged under the existing contract as a wet lease where the civic body pays for fuel and drivers rather than outright buying new vehicles which keeps the procurement under review and raises questions about BMC fiscal priorities.