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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
After SC nudge, MMRDA scraps tender process for Thane-Bhayandar mega infra projects worth Rs 14,000 crore
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has informed the Supreme Court that it has scrapped the two tenders issued for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects worth over Rs 14,000 crore in 'public interest'. 'We have decided to scrap the two tenders. The government will decide what they want to do,' Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for MMRDA, told a bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justices A G Masih and A S Chandurkar. Taking MMRDA's statement on record, the Supreme Court bench disposed of as 'infructuous' the pleas by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited that challenged the Bombay High Court order of May 20. The high court's vacation bench had refused relief to L&T in its pleas challenging the opening of financial bids for the two projects. 'Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for MMRDA fairly state that the state (MMRDA) has decided to scrap the entire tender process in the larger pubic interest and take such steps as are advised. In that view of the matter, petition is rendered infructuous and disposed of as infructuous,' the bench said in its order. L&T had claimed that it had not received any intimation about the status of the bids, while other bidders had received the same. It had argued that MMRDA had initiated the opening of the financial bids by excluding L&T from the process. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Ranjit Kumar, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, and advocates Raunak Dhillon, Madhavi Khanna, and Nihaad Dewan appeared for L&T. The two projects are proposed to link Thane and Mira-Bhayandar. One of the projects consists of a 5-km twin tunnel of 14.6-metre diameter from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction at Shilphata, worth Rs 8,000 crore. The other project, an elevated creek road bridge of 9.8 km, estimated to cost nearly Rs 6,000 crore, will connect Bhayandar with Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The two projects are part of an extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road project and the elevated bridge is likely to be the second largest after the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) bridge, also called Atal Setu. MMRDA's decision to scrap the present tender process came after the apex court on May 26 and 29 asked the authority whether it was willing to carry out re-tendering process for the two major projects and had warned that failure to do so may lead to the court staying the present tenders. The Supreme Court had said that it was difficult to comprehend that the technical bids of L&T, the company which was selected to execute the Central Vista Project in Delhi, had been rejected for the projects linking Thane and Bhayandar. L&T had told the top court that MMRDA had arbitrarily declared Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) as L1 (lowest) bidder for both the projects, despite its bid being at a substantially higher cost compared to that of L&T. The firm had argued that its price bid was nearly Rs 2,521 crore less than that of MEIL in the tunnel project, and Rs 609 crore less for the elevated road project. However, MMRDA, argued that there were 'substantial reasons' for rejecting the bid and that it was not on 'flimsy' or 'fanciful' grounds. On Friday, as Rohatgi informed the apex court that MMRDA was scrapping the present tenders, CJI Gavai said, 'Otherwise, if we go into the merits, we will have to consider the validity of that clause and everything.' Rohatgi said, 'I conveyed to the government. I had a discussion with the government.' The CJI said, 'We are basically concerned with the larger public interest. The difference is Rs 3,200 crore… We live in an era of transparency.' Though the petitioners also urged the bench to set aside the high court judgment, the CJI said it is not necessary. CJI Gavai told the petitioner's counsel, 'You should appreciate the fairness of Rohatgi and the Solicitor. At least at times.'
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
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Bombay High Court denies L&T relief in case against MMRDA over ₹16,000-crore road projects
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has denied relief to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) over its petitions contesting the opening of financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayander tunnel and elevated road projects, valued at over ₹ 16,000 crore, undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). A detailed order is awaited. On Tuesday a division bench led by Justices Kamal R. Khata and Arif S. Doctor delivered a ruling on two petitions filed by L&T, in which the company alleged that it had not been informed about the status of its bids, while the other bidders had received such updates. On the plea contesting the opening of financial bids for the elevated road project, the court declined L&T's request to further extend the stay on the opening of bids. The court also 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 the 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. MMRDA invited tenders in July 2024, and on 8 October, in response to a separate petition by L&T, the agreed to extend the deadline to submit bids by 60 days. Appearing on behalf of L&T, senior counsels Janak Dwarkadas and Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the bench both the technical and financial bids were submitted on 30 December 2024. They said MMRDA opened the technical bids on 1 January and began evaluating them, but L&T received no communication on the status of its bids. The company said MMRDA then proceeded to schedule the opening of financial bids for 13 May, even though the company hadn't received any information on the outcome of the technical bid evaluation. It said while it wasn't informed about the opening of financial bids, other bidders were intimated.
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Bombay High Court denies L&T relief in case against MMRDA over ₹16,000-crore road projects
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has denied relief to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) over its petitions contesting the opening of financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayander tunnel and elevated road projects, valued at over ₹ 16,000 crore, undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). A detailed order is awaited. On Tuesday a division bench led by Justices Kamal R. Khata and Arif S. Doctor delivered a ruling on two petitions filed by L&T, in which the company alleged that it had not been informed about the status of its bids, while the other bidders had received such updates. On the plea contesting the opening of financial bids for the elevated road project, the court declined L&T's request to further extend the stay on the opening of bids. The court also 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 the 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. MMRDA invited tenders in July 2024, and on 8 October, in response to a separate petition by L&T, the agreed to extend the deadline to submit bids by 60 days. Appearing on behalf of L&T, senior counsels Janak Dwarkadas and Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the bench both the technical and financial bids were submitted on 30 December 2024. They said MMRDA opened the technical bids on 1 January and began evaluating them, but L&T received no communication on the status of its bids. The company said MMRDA then proceeded to schedule the opening of financial bids for 13 May, even though the company hadn't received any information on the outcome of the technical bid evaluation. It said while it wasn't informed about the opening of financial bids, other bidders were intimated. The company therefore approached the high court, seeking an urgent stay on the process. It argued that opening financial bids while excluding it from participation would violate the principles of a fair and transparent tender process and established legal norms.
