The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a fresh tender for the design, construction, and operation of a 200 million litres per day (MLD) desalination plant at Manori — the fourth such attempt, as previous bids failed to attract interest.
This time, the civic body has shifted to a Design, Build, and Operate (DBO) model, replacing the Swiss Challenge approach used earlier. Officials say this change follows a report by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which identified the previous tendering model as a key deterrent to bidder participation.
Under the earlier arrangement, Israeli firm IDE Water Technologies Ltd had prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) at no cost to BMC under a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Swiss Challenge model gave the firm the right of first refusal — a clause that reportedly discouraged competition.
The proposed plant will draw seawater from 2.5 km offshore due to rocky terrain near the coastline and will be constructed on a 12-hectare plot at Manori Sunset Point. Civic officials confirmed that the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the plan, and land transfer from the state government is in its final stages.
A site visit for potential bidders is scheduled for early June, allowing them to assess local climatic and geotechnical conditions.
Officials emphasised that with Maharashtra’s 720-km-long coastline and unpredictable monsoons, desalination is a crucial step towards ensuring water security for Mumbai.
Source: Times Of India
