Latest news with #KamalRKhata
United News of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Maha: HC denies relief to L&T over bid for Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel
Mumbai, May 20 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant relief to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on its pleas challenging the non-intimation of opening of bids by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects worth over Rs 16,000 crore. A vacation bench of Justices Kamal R Khata and Arif S Doctor passed a verdict on two pleas by L&T, which claimed that it had not received any intimation about the status of its bids, while the other bidders had received the same. While refusing to grant relief, the bench directed that the bids submitted electronically by L&T for both projects be preserved in a sealed cover for two weeks, giving the company time to approach the Supreme Court. The high court also instructed MMRDA to communicate the tender award decision in accordance with the instructions to bidders (ITB). The two infrastructure projects aim to connect Thane and Mira-Bhayandar — a tunnel from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel junction at Shilphata, and an elevated creek bridge linking Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The proposed bridge would be the second-largest in the region after the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu. It is proposed as an extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. MMRDA had invited tenders in July 2024, and on October eight in response to a separate petition by L&T, they agreed to extend the deadline to submit bids by 60 days. UNI AAA SS
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bombay HC dismisses L&T's pleas against MMRDA's bid process for Twin Road projects
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) petitions challenging the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) move to open financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects. However, the division bench of Justices Kamal R Khata and Arif S Doctor, in its oral judgment said the price bids submitted electronically by L&T for both the projects should be preserved in a sealed cover for two weeks to enable it to approach the Supreme Court. The detailed order was not uploaded till the time of filing the story. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Majestic Cars of All Time (So Far) Watch Now The genesis of the dispute lies in the two tenders floated by the MMRDA last year. These tenders are for the design and construction of an elevated road from Fountain Hotel Junction at Thane-Ghodbunder Road to Bhayander at an estimated cost of about Rs 6,000 crore, and the design and construction of an underground road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction on Thane-Ghodbunder road at the estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore. Live Events The engineering conglomerate L&T, in two separate petitions filed through law firm AVP Partners, claimed that it had not received any intimation about the status of its bids, while the other bidders had received the same. Law firm DSK Legal is representing MMRDA. In the case of a plea against the opening of financial bids for an elevated road, the court refused to continue the stay on the opening of bids and said it was rejecting L&T's request for a further stay. In the case of the tunnel project, the court dismissed the engineering and construction major's plea stating that it had approached the court with 'suppressed' material. Senior counsels Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Janak Dwarkadas, on behalf of L&T, argued that the technical and financial bids were submitted on December 30, 2024, and MMRDA opened the technical bids on January 1, 202 and were being evaluated. However, the had not received any communication related to the same. Countering this, MMRDA, through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that it was not required to inform L&T that the firm's bid was found to be unresponsive before opening the financial bids. The state government authority also argued that since the project was in the public interest, it was entitled to open the financial bids and communicate the outcome of the technical evaluation without informing L&T. These road projects are the last leg of the ambitious coastal road project, which is expected to help with traffic decongestion and ease travel time from the northern suburbs to the central and southern parts of the city of Mumbai. The proposed bridge in one of the projects would be the second largest after the present Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) bridge, which is called Atal Setu.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Bombay HC refuses relief to L&T in tender process for tunnel, elevated road projects connecting Thane with Mira-Bhayandar
The Bombay High Court Tuesday refused relief to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in its pleas challenging the opening of financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects initiated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). A vacation bench of Justices Kamal R Khata and Arif S Doctor passed a verdict on two pleas by L&T, which claimed that it had not received any intimation about the status of its bids, while the other bidders had received the same. In the case of a plea against the opening of financial bids for an elevated road, the HC refused to continue the stay on the opening of bids and said it was rejecting L&T's request for further stay. In the case of the tunnel project, the HC dismissed L&T's plea stating that it had approached the court with 'suppressed' material. The HC, however, said the price bids submitted electronically by L&T for both the projects should be preserved in a sealed cover for two weeks to enable it to approach the Supreme Court. The bench said the MMRDA shall communicate the decision related to the tender award as per the Instructions to Bidders (ITB). The two projects link Thane and Mira-Bhayandar through a tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction at Shilphata, and an elevated creek road bridge will connect Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road in Thane. MMRDA invited tenders for the project in July 2024, and on October 8, responding to a separate plea by L&T, the Authority had said that it would extend by 60 days the last date of submission of bids for the project. Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Janak Dwarkadas, representing L&T, informed the HC that the technical and financial bids were submitted on December 30, 2024, and MMRDA opened the technical bids on January 1 and were being evaluated, however, the petitioner firm had not received any communication related to the same. The firm said that without such information about the evaluation result, MMRDA had scheduled the opening of financial bids for the project on May 13. However, it said some other bidders had received an intimation about the opening of financial bids. Therefore, it approached the HC seeking an urgent stay on the same. The firm argued that if the financial bids were opened by excluding it, the same would be contrary to a fair and transparent tender process and against well-established legal norms or principles. L&T's bid unresponsive before opening financial bids: MMRDA Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi for MMRDA, however, argued that it was not required to intimate L&T that the firm's bid was found to be unresponsive before opening the financial bids. The Authority claimed that since the project was in public interest, it was entitled to open the financial bids and communicate the outcome of the technical evaluation without informing L&T. It added that of the five bidders, others were also found unresponsive for both projects at the technical stage and will be informed once the final bidder is selected. The firm termed it 'discriminatory and arbitrary' and against principles of natural justice. Earlier, on May 13, the court directed MMRDA not to open financial bids till it hears the plea. On May 15, while concluding the hearing and reserving its order, the bench extended the said arrangement till its decision on May 20.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Does Maharashtra govt want to encourage law-abiders or lawbreakers?': Bombay HC orders demolition of illegal construction at Andheri
The Bombay High Court, while expressing displeasure over inaction by authorities against illegal construction in Andheri (East) despite several complaints made for the last four years, questioned whether the Maharashtra government wanted to continue to encourage the law-abiders or the lawbreakers. A Bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Kamal R Khata on April 17 directed strict disciplinary action against responsible officers of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and said that it was an example of civic body's failure to prevent and remove unauthorised constructions. The court also ordered to demolish the illegal construction at an open space next to Lotus Apartment and opposite Lok Bharti building at Marol, Andheri (East) within two weeks, based on a plea filed in 2023, by an individual, Asif Fazal Khan, who stated that a member of Manav Seva Dham Charitable Trust had noticed the illegal construction. The Trust had filed a complaint before the BMC first in March 2021 and another in May 2022 to take action against the illegal activity. However, it failed to give any response or take action. Advocate Mahesh Rajpopat who appeared for the petitioner submitted that the illegal structure was being visited by anti-social elements, causing trouble to occupants of adjoining residential premises. The HC in April last year had directed the BMC to inspect the site and take appropriate action. The court noted that BMC, in its affidavit regarding the erring officer, claimed that the staff of the municipal wards concerned were on other duties due to the Ganpati festival and subsequently during Assembly elections last year, which caused the officer 'to lose track of the matter'. The affidavit said that the error by the officer was inadvertent and not a willful non-compliance with the HC order. The HC noted that illegal constructions on larger vacant lands 'develop into slums which consist of both dwelling and commercial units and on smaller ones into commercial establishments. 'Outstandingly, this case not only reveals but vindicates the common belief about the unholy nexus amongst all concerned,' the HC said 'We are exasperated by not only the inaction of the BMC and all the above officers but what exemplifies this case is the complete lack of courtesy to the citizen by a Public Authority, noncommunication, and stoic silence. A reading of the Petition itself evokes annoyance. What emotional trauma citizens go through patiently, is what we set aside for now – though a matter of great concern,' the HC remarked. It observed, 'one needs to have the courage and wherewithal not only to take up these issues against the law-breakers, who in some cases may also be anti-social elements but to continue following up the same till it meets with its logical conclusion, against all odds.' 'Does the State want to continue to encourage the law abiders or the law breakers is a question that the State Government needs to answer. At this point, we find it otherwise,' the Bench pointed out. The Bench said the state government 'must sensitise these thoroughly insensitive persons in charge of the public authorities. It went on to note, 'They are the ones who are solely responsible for the mushrooming illegalities and utter lawlessness. A lax attitude of the State Government in this regard would only lead law-abiding citizens to draw an inference that persons abetting the lawbreakers/persons indulging in illegalities, enjoy the benefits of these illicit gains from these illegalities conducted by anti-social elements who care a tuppence for the law.' The HC also directed the BMC Commissioner to take appropriate action against erring officers responsible for permitting the construction and continuance of illegal structures after holding enquiry against them.
