Maharashtra govt asks large infra firms to bid for Mumbai road projects

A company won project to build elevated road near Mumbai but municipal corporation cancelled the tender without explaining a reason

Major companies are seeking to build Mumbai’s infrastructure after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asked Tata Projects and L&T to bid for roads and bridges, sources said as firms sought an open and transparent bidding process.

The city’s major infrastructure work is usually developed by state-owned Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Mumbai municipal corporation. While large companies win MMRDA projects, municipal road projects are bagged by local contractors. “The municipal corporation should create a level-playing field with a transparent bidding system so that large companies can participate in the tenders,” said an official of a large infrastructure company.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) in association with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) this February issued a tender for constructing a 5.6-km-long elevated road between Dahisar and Bhayandar near Mumbai with an estimated project cost of Rs 1,500 crores.

A large infrastructure company won the project but the municipal corporation cancelled the tender without giving a reason, thus delaying the project.

In October, the MCGM invited fresh tenders for the project with the estimated project cost revised higher to Rs 2,500 crore. As per the revised plan, the Dahisar to Bhayandar elevated road will join the coastal road now under construction.

The elevated road will be the last leg of the Mumbai coastal road project connecting South Mumbai to North Mumbai on the western side. The first leg between Chowpatty to Worli sea link was built by L&T.

“It is easier for the large infrastructure companies to raise funds, mobilise labour and finish the projects on time. If the projects get delayed due to litigation, it would impact commuters who are suffering due to delay in the commissioning of several major infrastructure projects such as Mumbai Metro,” said the official, asking not to be named.