{
  "id": 382862,
  "title": "Mira-Bhayandar Civic Body's Loan Plan Sparks Political Row Over Mortgaging Properties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/mira-bhayandar-civic-bodys-loan-plan-sparks-political-row-over",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T13:23:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mira-bhayandar-civic-bodys-loan-plan-sparks-political-row-over-mortgaging-properties"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mira-Bhayandar's municipal corporation is embroiled in a political dispute over a loan proposal to fund cement-concrete road construction. Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik, who serves as Transport Minister, claims the loan involves mortgaging municipal properties to a private bank for up to 30 years. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has been working on road projects to tackle potholes, but faces funding shortages. A loan from a private bank has been proposed, though state government approval for borrowing is reportedly in place. The BJP, however, alleges the Urban Development Department is delaying the actual borrowing approval. Sarnaik rebuffs these claims, stating the loan proposal involves mortgaging municipal properties to a private bank for 30 years to cover the costs of the road works. He argues that the Urban Development Department has not approved the proposal quickly due to his opposition to long-term mortgage of municipal properties. Instead, Sarnaik believes funds should be provided by the state government. He also alleges that contractors, who have completed the road works, are facing payment issues, and claims one individual named \"Kothari\" is demanding a 23% commission for facilitating the payments.",
  "summary": "Mira-Bhayandar: A political controversy has erupted over the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s proposal to raise a loan from a private bank to pay contractors for cement-concrete road works. Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has alleged that the loan proposal involves mortgaging municipal properties to a private bank for as long as 30 years. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}