Contractors Stage Rain-Soaked Protest in Pune over Rs 90,000 Crore Pending Bills

Pune, 22nd August 2025: Hundreds of contractors staged a sit-in protest outside the district collector’s office on Tuesday, demanding the release of pending bills worth nearly ₹90,000 crore from various state government departments.

Despite heavy rain, around 800–900 contractors from across Maharashtra participated in the agitation, which was led by the Builders’ Association of India (BAI), Pune Centre. Several bodies, including the Maharashtra State Contractors’ Association, State Engineers’ Association, Water Supply Contractors’ Association, State Hotmix Association, Labour Co-operative Societies, and the Pune Contractors’ Association, joined the protest.

Protesters raised slogans accusing the government of starving contractors of payments while announcing new schemes. A delegation led by BAI Pune president Ajay Gujar, state president Jagannath Jadhav, and other association heads submitted a memorandum of demands to the resident district collector Jyoti Kadam.

Gujar said contractors’ dues had crossed ₹90,000 crore. “The state has money for schemes like ‘Ladki Bahin’ but none for contractors. Payments due to us are being diverted, leaving contractors bankrupt,” he alleged.

Jadhav pointed out that a young contractor in Sangli, Harshal Patil, had recently died by suicide over non-payment of dues. “Despite such incidents, the government has not acted. If this continues, we will have no option but to move to court,” he warned.

Ravindra Bhosale, president of Pune Contractors’ Association, said: “We have completed work, yet payments are stuck in files. Most contractors are under severe debt and stress. The government must at least release 50% of the arrears immediately.”

Suresh Kadu of the State Contractors’ Association alleged that the state was floating new tenders despite an empty treasury. “If funds are not available, stop bringing out fresh bids. First settle contractors’ dues,” he said.