The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to re-tender the proposed Ghodbunder–Bhayandar twin tunnel and elevated Rd infrastructure project. As per the MMRDA’s official statement issued on Friday May 30th it informed the Supreme Court regarding re tendering process to be initiated.
Besides the MMRDA is also actively considering to lower the base cost by approximately ₹3,000 crore—to ensure optimal use of public funds.
One of the bidders —Larsen & Toubro (L&T) had challenged the tendering process by filing petitions in the Bombay High Court and later challenged in SC.
The ambitious tunnel and elevated Rd project between Ghodbunder in Thane and Bhayander, span a 5-km tunnel of 14.6-metre diameter, connecting Gaimukh near the mouth of Vasai Creek in Mira-Bhayandar to the Fountain Hotel junction at Shilphata in Thane. This project cost is estimated at Rs 8,000 crore. The second project comprises a 9.8-km elevated creek road bridge, which will connect Bhayandar with Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The cost of this project is estimated at Rs 6,000 crore. This project will drastically improve connectivity between the eastern and Western suburbs. The travel distance will be saved. However Now fresh tenders will be called.
In the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed before the Supreme Court the L&T has sought both final and interim reliefs relating to the Projects. The key components of L&T’s prayer were to Grant Restrain MMRDA from opening financial bids submitted by bidders, Restrain MMRDA from disclosing or making public any financial bids received and Stay the issuance of Letter of Award related to the project among others.
While before the Supreme Court, L&T was not granted its prayer as per MMRDA.
L&T’s disqualification stemmed from a failure to comply with an essential eligibility clause that required submission of an undertaking confirming that no bridge/barrage constructed by the bidder had collapsed within the last two years of completion. This condition was by way of a disclosure by L&T, rendered them ineligible under the tender norms. Their financial bid was therefore never opened.
As per the MMRDA, despite its position being fully upheld at both the High Court and Supreme Court, MMRDA—through Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta—submitted to the Supreme Court that both tenders would be scrapped and a fresh tender process would be initiated only to safeguard larger Public interest.
