The rising cost of the Mrunaltai Gore Flyover extension in Goregaon has come under the spotlight, with members of the civic standing committee questioning the sharp increase in project expenditure. During a meeting held on Wednesday, corporators noted that the cost of the project has surged significantly over the past seven years.
Originally sanctioned at Rs 209.64 crore, including taxes, the project involves extending the flyover along S V Road from Ram Mandir Road to Relief Road. The cost has now increased by Rs 38.33 crore, taking the total project value to Rs 247.97 crore. The construction work is being executed by the joint venture firm MEPL-GYAN JV.
The proposal seeking approval for the revised cost was deferred after corporators across political parties raised concerns regarding delays, planning gaps, and the roles of both the contractor and the consultant. The committee has decided to carry out a joint site inspection with civic officials before making a final decision.
UBT Shiv Sena corporator Yashodhar Phanse, who pushed for the visit, pointed out that the project has remained incomplete for more than seven years. BJP corporator Priti Satam questioned the accuracy of initial estimates, asking how discrepancies were identified only after several years. She also raised concerns about a possible nexus between the consultant and the contractor.
Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar emphasised that both the consultant and civic engineers should be present during the site visit to explain the reasons for the cost escalation.
Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi highlighted the absence of penalties despite prolonged delays and questioned the allocation of nearly Rs 15 crore towards resurfacing and installation of noise barriers, asking why these costs were not identified earlier.
Standing committee chairman Prabhakar Shinde said members will visit the project site in Goregaon along with officials to assess the situation on the ground. A decision on approving the revised cost will be taken after the inspection.
Source: The Times of India
