French firm-L&T combine may bid for projects

Jean-Michel Ducasse, France-based BTP-C director (India-Africa) and L&T senior executives met chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today to communicate their interest in the projects.

The WFS project seeks to connect Worli (in central Mumbai) with the business district of Nariman Point (in south Mumbai) while the THL is proposed between Nhava Sheva (Raigad district) to Sewri (in south Mumbai) and have been designated the status of fast track projects by the state government in the overall development plan to transform Mumbai into an international class city.

At todays meeting, the Ducasse-led French delegation sought the commissioning of the techno-economic feasibility study through a credible agency to be able to avail of traffic growth projections on the proposed thoroughfares.

They were also keen to know more about the (state) government servicing and facilitation that would be available besides details on how a special purpose vehicle would have to be formed for executing the projects.

A senior government official confirming the meeting told Business Standard, "The French delegation also emphasised that they were keen on a bidding process for the projects as they do not want to leave any scope for criticism in future about the manner in which the project contracts were awarded."

He added that the meeting also deliberated on whether the Rs 6,600 crore THL project could be taken up in its entirety, including a two track rail bridge as well as an eight track road bridge.

"If the project is restricted to an eight track road bridge, the project cost comes down to Rs 4,300 crore," he added.