India, April 27 -- Residents of Panju island between Vasai and Naigaon have forced the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) to cancel a Rs.3.24 crore road-strengthening tender after opposing what they called an unnecessary project on a road already in good condition.

Villagers uncovered what they alleged was a case of wasteful expenditure after the MMB awarded a Rs.3.24 crore contract to strengthen the island's only two-km road, despite it being largely intact. The protest by villagers and a formal complaint over suspected irregularities led the MMB to scale down the plan. Instead of rebuilding the entire two-km road, the board will now carry out repairs only where needed, bringing the cost to less than half.

Panju, a 300-acre island in Vas...