Six consortiums bid for Sewri-Nhava Seva sea link project

Six construction majors (including five consortiums) have submitted pre-qualification bids for the Mumbai trans-harbour sea link project from Sewri to Nhava Seva in New Mumbai.

While the tenders for the project have called for a build operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement, the state government will introduce a criterion whereby the bidder seeking the least quantum of assistance from the Maharashtra government will qualify under the bidding process.

A senior secretariat official said, "Along with this criterion, we also plan to introduce the French clause to prevent a subsequent escalation in project costs. Under this clause, if after qualifying for the project the construction company subsequently seeks additional assistance, the government will be within its rights to offer the project to other companies willing to underbid the existing contractor. In addition, timebound milestones would also be set to ensure the project is completed on time, failing which the contractor would be liable to pay penalties."

The six shortlisted firms include the China Harbour Engineering company, a consortium of Dywidag Germany, Shapoorji Pallonji and Afcons; another consortium of Iffco, Maida from Japan, Italian Thai Development Company and Skansa: a consortium comprising Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, Skil Infrastructure and John Laing Construction.

The other two consortiums include Larsen and Toubro & Sisterna from Russia and Reliance Energy & Hyundai Engineering.

The state government appointed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nodal agency for the project, has also received technical and financial bids from firms to be appointed as engineers/ consultants for the project.

Of the 36 agencies which collected tender documents, eight have submitted their bids including Dewey Ballantine (UK), Flames Consulting India (France), Louis Berger Group (US), Pell Frischmann Consultants (UK), Scott Wilson Kirpatrick India (UK), Jean Muller joint venture with STUP Consultants and BCEOM (France) and TY Lin International Dar-Dal Handasah CE (US).

The pre-qualification process is scheduled for completion by March 2005 after which the technical bids will be opened and tender finalisation effected by mid-March.