The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to refrain from opening financial bids for the ambitious Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road project until Thursday.
This order followed a petition by construction giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which alleged that while other bidders were informed about the status of their technical bids, it had received no such communication.
The ₹6,000 crore project features a 9.8 km elevated road over Vasai Creek and is being promoted as the second-longest such structure in the country, after the Atal Setu. It forms part of the extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project.
Senior advocate Janak Dwarkadas, representing L&T along with Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that opening financial bids while excluding L&T would violate the principles of fairness and transparency. “We were never told our bids were non-responsive. The reasons for this silence remain undisclosed,” he said.
L&T submitted both technical and financial bids on 30 December 2024. The MMRDA opened the technical bids on 1 January 2025. However, L&T claims it was never informed of the results.
The MMRDA, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, countered that only eligible bidders are notified, as per the tender conditions. Mehta cautioned against delays in public infrastructure projects, stating that injunctive relief could harm public interest.
Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, also representing MMRDA, contended that L&T could not now contest a process it had willingly participated in, alleging suppression of facts by the petitioner.
Nevertheless, the vacation bench of Justices Kamal Khata and Arif Doctor queried the absence of written communication. “Can you give it to them in writing? That might resolve the matter,” the bench observed, urging transparency.
Source: The Free Press Journal.
