The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has launched a comprehensive reassessment of its ambitious Rs 14,000 crore infrastructure initiatives, including the Thane-Ghodbunder-Bhayandar twin tunnel and elevated road projects. This follows the annulment of previous tenders amid legal concerns regarding fairness and transparency.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been formally asked to submit detailed financial estimates and cost justifications for its earlier bids. The authority has given L&T a seven-day deadline to provide the documentation, which will aid in recalculating the project’s base cost before reissuing tenders.
The move follows a Supreme Court directive advocating for transparent and competitive bidding. L&T had challenged its disqualification, citing significant cost disparities with the chosen bidder, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL). The Court’s intervention reinforced the need for public interest to be prioritised in awarding major contracts.
The affected projects form a part of the Mumbai Coastal Road extension. They include an Rs 8,000 crore, 5-km twin tunnel from Gaimukh in Mira-Bhayandar to Thane’s Fountain Hotel junction, and an Rs 6,000 crore, 9.8-km elevated bridge connecting Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road. Both projects are crucial to easing traffic and enhancing regional connectivity.
MMRDA is now considering reducing the overall project cost by nearly Rs 3,000 crore based on L&T’s revised figures, aiming to align financials with market conditions and ensure prudent use of public funds.
This renewed evaluation signals MMRDA’s intent to uphold transparency and accountability in public infrastructure development. As the re-tendering process progresses, its outcome will be closely watched, holding implications for the region’s infrastructure planning and public trust in future large-scale projects.
Source: Urban Acres
