11 hours ago
L&T yet to respond on cost details of 2 projects
Mumbai: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is yet to respond to a formal request from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) seeking cost estimates it voluntarily disclosed in the Supreme Court (SC)for two key infrastructure projects: the Gaimukh–Fountain Hotel underground tunnel and the Fountain Junction–Bhayander elevated road.
On June 10, MMRDA emailed L&T, asking for detailed cost estimates, rate justifications, and supporting documents cited during court hearings related to its disqualification from the tenders. The agency gave the firm seven working days to respond, but no reply was received as of June 19. "We are awaiting L&T's reply... Once that's received, we intend to verify the information provided and rework the estimates with the aid of top experts so as to be aligned with the spirit of transparency and fairness," said an MMRDA official.
In court, L&T said it quoted Rs 6,498 crore for the tunnel and Rs 5,554 crore for the elevated road — totalling nearly Rs 12,000 crore. Megha Engineering India Ltd (MEIL), the lowest bidder, quoted Rs 14,000 crore. SC dismissed the matter as infructuous after MMRDA opted to retender the project, after a query from the bench about L&T's claim of a significantly lower quote.
"When financial figures are shared in court, it's fair to expect supporting documentation if formally requested by a public authority," said a senior MMRDA official. — Manthan Mehta
