Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik has raised concerns, alleging that a proposed project involving a battery-operated submersible vehicle for tourists in the Arabian Sea is "highly likely" to be relocated from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, however, dismissed these claims.

According to Vaibhav Naik, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation approved the battery-powered submersible vehicle project in 2018, with financial provisions allocated in the state's budget in 2019 under the then government led by Uddhav Thackeray. Despite these approvals, the project failed to materialize, and Naik asserts that it is now on the verge of being shifted to Gujarat. His party colleague, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, urged the state government to provide clarification on the matter, condemning the potential relocation as a form of job displacement for Marathi people and referring to it as "broad daylight dacoity."

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde countered Vaibhav Naik's allegations, emphasizing that the project rightfully belongs to Maharashtra and is not being relocated elsewhere. Shinde assured the public, stating, "Do not trust any other claims about it. I have spoken to Industries Minister Uday Samant about it. The project is not going out of the state."

This dispute echoes previous opposition allegations concerning the purported shift of the diamond industry to Surat in Gujarat, with similar accusations leveled against the Shinde government regarding various projects, including Vedanta-Foxconn, Tata-Airbus, and bulk drug park projects. The controversy underscores the ongoing debate surrounding industrial developments and their potential impact on regional economies.

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