The Maharashtra government is preparing to cancel the existing tender for the proposed new Bombay High Court complex in Bandra East after prolonged delays in finalising the project’s architectural design. The Rs 4,217-crore project has remained stalled despite the opening of bids nearly seven months ago, with the High Court’s steering committee yet to approve a final blueprint.
According to government sources, the Public Works Department (PWD) has recommended scrapping the tender issued on October 31, 2025, as repeated design modifications have made it difficult to proceed under the current bidding framework. Officials said the steering committee, tasked with overseeing the project, has continued to seek substantial changes despite multiple review meetings and two foundation stone-laying ceremonies.
The proposal has undergone several revisions since the tender process began. Earlier reports indicated that recommendations to increase the built-up area of the complex had pushed the estimated project cost beyond the original Rs 3,750 crore budget.
The debate over the scale of the project intensified after former Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai remarked, “I read in the newspapers that the building is extravagant. Judges are no longer feudal lords. This building should be a temple of justice and not a seven-star hotel.”
Following these observations, the steering committee reportedly reviewed various aspects of the project, including courtroom sizes, lawyers’ facilities, auditoriums, visitor amenities, and parking arrangements. Revised specifications were subsequently forwarded to the project’s architect, Hafeez Contractor, for incorporation into updated plans.
However, officials said the final design remains unresolved, with fresh instructions continuing to result in additional modifications. “The final design has not been locked. Once the architectural plan changes, the cost estimates must also be recalculated, and fresh administrative approval will be required,” an official said.
Given the likelihood of further revisions, cost escalation, and approval delays, the PWD has recommended issuing a fresh tender only after the design, budget estimates, and technical specifications are finalised.
The proposed High Court complex was conceived to address space limitations and safety concerns at the existing Bombay High Court building, which has functioned near Flora Fountain since 1878. The new campus is planned to include modern courtrooms, judges’ chambers, administrative offices, an arbitration and mediation centre, library facilities, and other amenities for legal professionals and litigants.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
