Adani Meets Karnataka Chief Minister Raises Eyebrows
The meeting comes amid the proposed tunnel road project from Hebbal to Silk Board, for which Adani Enterprises has emerged as the lowest bidder
Bengaluru: Chairman of Adani Group Gautam Adani met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru city on Sunday which the latter termed it a “courtesy” call by the country's leading businessman after he became Chief Minister in June this year.
The meeting between the Chief Minister and Gautam Adani was questioned by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashoka since Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged a nexus between Prime Minister and Gautam Adani in availing business deals. Reacting to the visit of Gautam Adani, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru, on meeting Gautam Adani “They (Adani Group) are giving a lot of jobs here (Karnataka)” and stated “He met me and left.”
However, the meeting raised eyebrows among the political/business circles since Gautam Adani is the lowest bidder for the State Government proposed road tunnel project in Bengaluru city. Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) belonging to Gautam Adani bid for the proposed road tunnel project was Rs 22, 267 crore while the State Government estimate was Rs 17, 698 crore, an amount Rs 4, 600 crore above.
For the proposed 16.75-km tunnel road from Central Silk Board to Hebbal in Bengaluru city, Adani Enterprises is the lowest bidder split into two packages. The contract for the proposed road tunnel project has not yet been finalized.
The proposed road tunnel project will be implemented under Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. Apart from being lowest bidder for the tunnel project, Adani Group operates Mangaluru International Airport in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi Thermal Power Plant, besides, investing in renewable energy among others in Karnataka.
Regarding the meeting between Gautam Adani and Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashoka recalled “Rahul Gandhi accused Gautam Adani, a BJP agent. But the Karnataka government rolled out the red carpet for Adani.”
Ashoka questioned “Have the Congress leaders given permission for Adani to conduct business in Karnataka?” In a video clip, D.K. Shivakumar was seen seeing off Gautam Adani at his Sadashivanagar residence after the meeting.
