Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Wednesday denied media reports that she offered to repair roads in Bengaluru. It was reported earlier that Congress MP and former Union Minister P Chidambaram claimed that Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw offered to fund repairs of Bengaluru’s notoriously battered roads.
In a post on X, Chidambaram welcomed the proposal but insisted that the lack of funds isn't the problem, but execution of public work is. This came amid an online face-off between Shaw and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over civic infrastructure in the IT hub. But the Biocon chief has denied making any such offer.
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“Kiran Shaw offers to fund Bengaluru road repair, P Chidambaram responds. I am watching with amusement how the media fabricates news. Please ask them to share their source of this info about my offer to repair roads,” she posted on ‘X’.
This came after Chidambaram said in an online post, "I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations! But the problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the public work." To solve this, he had even suggested a new system that pins accountability to a supervising company or industrialist like Shaw.
Chidambaram had suggested a model to implement Mrs. Shaw’s idea using public funds. “Governments can follow standard procedures—public money, tenders, etc.—to select a contractor. Once chosen, the contractor can be placed under the supervision of a willing company or industrialist, similar to Mrs. Shaw,” he said.
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Chidambaram added that the supervising entity would be held accountable for the project’s execution, including any penalties or cost overruns. “The contractor will carry out the public work—say, a road. However, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for ensuring quality and timely completion. Any penalties or cost overruns will be their responsibility,” the Rajya Sabha MP explained. He also suggested that cities like Chennai or Bengaluru could serve as pilot locations for such an initiative.
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Earlier, Chidambaram had posted, “I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw’s offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations.” He added, “The problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the work.”
"Governments can tweak Mrs Shaw's idea: Public money, tender, etc can be followed to select the contractor. After selection, the contractor will be placed under the supervision of a willing company or industrialist like Mrs Shaw," said Chidambaram. While the contractor will execute the public work, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for the quality and timely execution of the work, he suggested.
In a post on X, Chidambaram welcomed the proposal but insisted that the lack of funds isn't the problem, but execution of public work is. This came amid an online face-off between Shaw and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over civic infrastructure in the IT hub. But the Biocon chief has denied making any such offer.
What Kiran Mazumdar said on Bengaluru roads?
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw responded to a post from Chidambaram on X, who had earlier commended her “supposed offer" while using it to propose a novel public works accountability model. Expressing amusement by the 'fabricated' news, she wrote, "The media have fabricated this news. I have never offered to repair the roads as is being suggested. I am amused that one journalists’s question to the Dep CM whether he would consider my supposed offer to repair roads seems to have transitioned into mainstream media news! No fact checking? Really sad to see this n people like u being made to comment!" Shaw wrote.ALSO READ: 'Silent killer' pancreatic cancer symptoms might show up in your legs: Don't ignore these warning signs, warn experts
“Kiran Shaw offers to fund Bengaluru road repair, P Chidambaram responds. I am watching with amusement how the media fabricates news. Please ask them to share their source of this info about my offer to repair roads,” she posted on ‘X’.
This came after Chidambaram said in an online post, "I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations! But the problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the public work." To solve this, he had even suggested a new system that pins accountability to a supervising company or industrialist like Shaw.
Chidambaram had suggested a model to implement Mrs. Shaw’s idea using public funds. “Governments can follow standard procedures—public money, tenders, etc.—to select a contractor. Once chosen, the contractor can be placed under the supervision of a willing company or industrialist, similar to Mrs. Shaw,” he said.
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Chidambaram added that the supervising entity would be held accountable for the project’s execution, including any penalties or cost overruns. “The contractor will carry out the public work—say, a road. However, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for ensuring quality and timely completion. Any penalties or cost overruns will be their responsibility,” the Rajya Sabha MP explained. He also suggested that cities like Chennai or Bengaluru could serve as pilot locations for such an initiative.
Kiran Mazumdar vs Karnataka govt on roads
Shaw has been at loggerheads with the Karnataka government due to Bengaluru’s infrastructure issues on social media and has repeatedly urged the state government to intervene. On Tuesday, she met Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar to greet them on the occasion of Diwali and assured her cooperation for Bengaluru’s development. Shivakumar, who is also the minister in-charge of Bengaluru development, later told reporters that Shaw has assured cooperation and support of the industry for the development of Bengaluru.ALSO READ: Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat: Elvish Yadav's review of Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa's movie goes viral, fans react hilariously
Earlier, Chidambaram had posted, “I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw’s offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations.” He added, “The problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the work.”
"Governments can tweak Mrs Shaw's idea: Public money, tender, etc can be followed to select the contractor. After selection, the contractor will be placed under the supervision of a willing company or industrialist like Mrs Shaw," said Chidambaram. While the contractor will execute the public work, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for the quality and timely execution of the work, he suggested.
