Latest news with #MumbaiCoastalRoadProject
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
After L&T's challenge, MMRDA scraps tenders for 14k cr road projects
Mumbai/New Delhi: In a major relief for construction major Larsen & Toubro, MMRDA informed a Supreme Court vacation bench that it has in public interest scrapped its tenders for the Thane-Ghodbunder- Bhayandar twin tunnel and elevated road projects — estimated together at Rs 14,000 crore — and that it would possibly reissue fresh ones, but added it is for the state govt to take a call on, reports Swati Deshpande. The matter reached SC after L&T challenged MMRDA's decision to reject its technical bids for the projects. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure, which was a prominent purchaser of electoral bonds prior to being scrapped by SC, was declared the successful bidder. CJI B R Gavai remarked Friday this is the era of transparency and that the court was concerned with the larger public interest. The bench had Thursday also expressed surprise that technical bids of a firm which had built Central Vista and Atal Setu were rejected. After a Supreme Court bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justices A G Masih and A S Chandurkar was informed Friday about scrapping of the bidding process for the two projects, the SC disposed of the L&T's appeal as infructuous. "It is for the Maharashtra govt to take a call on whether to invite fresh tenders for the two projects," said MMRDA counsel solicitor general Tushar Mehta and Mukul Rohatgi. The elevated road project proposed a 9.8km overbridge along Vasai Creek and is part of an extension of Mumbai Coastal Road Project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Что происходит при сжигании лаврового листа? Undo The Road Tunnel Project involved design and construction of a five-km long twin road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction on Thane Ghodbunder Road. The Supreme Court in its order noted both Mehta and Rohatgi for MMRDA "fairly submitted that the state has decided to scrap the entire tender process in the larger public interest and will take such steps, as are advised". The SLPs were thus rendered infructuous, said SC. L&T went to the high court on May 13, the day the financial bids were to be opened for the second-largest road project after Atal Setu. It said MMRDA was flouting instructions to bidders and PWD and CVC guidelines of informing bidders of the technical bid round outcome, which precedes the opening of price bids. In court, MMRDA said L&T and two others of the five bidders were found "non-responsive" or disqualified, and it was not mandatory to intimate the results to the bidders before the final winning or lowest bidder (L1) was selected post the last and financial round. L&T senior counsel A M Singhvi and Kapil Sibal informed the Supreme Court the difference between the L1 and its client was over Rs 3,100 crore. No other bidders were made party by L&T to its petitions. Before the Bombay High Court, L&T senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas also said "hypothetically" if in one project there were two tenders—one for the tunnel and one for the elevated road—the difference was over Rs 2,000 crore, would the public exchequer not suffer? The high court vacation bench dismissed the L&T petitions on May 20, citing MMRDA's argument of it being a large public infrastructure project which could brook no delay and the fact that the company participated in the bidding process and did not challenge the terms of the tender. L&T immediately challenged the high court order before the SC. On Monday, the Chief Justice-led bench wondered aloud in court how L&T could have been found technically disqualified and asked MMRDA to consult the state and see if it was willing to re-tender the project, else it would pass orders on Thursday. On Thursday, MMRDA counsel, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Mukul Rohatgi, informed the high court that it was in touch with the govt top brass and sought a deferment to Friday. Last Oct, after L&T moved HC, MMRDA extended the tender deadline by 60 days for its two mega projects. Pic for representation
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Substantial grounds' for rejecting L&T bid for Mumbai elevated road and tunnel projects, MMRDA tells SC
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that there were 'substantial grounds' for rejecting the technical bid of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for the proposed approximately Rs 6,000 crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project and the Rs 8,000 crore Road Tunnel Project. 'There are substantial grounds,' Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for MMRDA, told a bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and A G Masih, which raised doubts about the disqualification. Hearing the matter on May 26, CJI Gavai had wondered how the company chosen by the central government for the construction of the Central Vista project had failed to pass muster for the Mumbai projects. As the bench took up the matter again on Thursday, Mehta urged the court to hear it on Friday. While agreeing to the request, the CJI once again raised the question of L&T being chosen for the Central Vista project. Pointing out that there is public money involved, the CJI added, 'The question is the person who is building Central Vista…'. CJI Gavai, apparently highlighting the need to ensure safety standards, referred to the 2023 collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand where 41 workers were trapped and subsequently rescued. 'L&T is disqualified, but the person who has been granted has such…,' said the CJI. Before he could complete, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for L&T, added, 'Enormous credentials.' Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited is the successful L1 bidder for the project. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for MMRDA, said, 'We have not shown Your Lordships the reasons. If Your Lordships were to see the reasons…'. The CJI said, 'We will consider it.' Mehta said Rohatgi 'wants to convey that the disqualification is not on any flimsy' grounds. 'Not fanciful' grounds, added Rohatgi. The senior counsel added, 'We have examined the reports. Our problem is that the tender says we cannot disclose'. Rohatgi was implying that the tender conditions restrain the MMRDA from disclosing the reasons for disqualifying a bidder till the contract is awarded. On May 26, the bench had asked MMRDA whether it was willing to retender the projects, failing which, the court said, it would stay the tender process. The Elevated Road Project envisages a 9.80 km bridge passing along the Vasai Creek. It is part of an extension of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and a part of the MMRDA's larger road expansion project involving the construction of an around 15 km stretch of road from Gaimukh in Thane to Bhayander. The Road Tunnel Project is for the design and construction of an underground road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction on Thane Ghodbunder Road. It envisages 5 km-long twin tunnels of a finished diameter of 14.6 m. The principal ground of L&T's challenge is that it was technically disqualified from the process without any intimation or reasons. It contended that the arbitrary and non-transparent manner of carrying out the tender process has resulted in the declaration of the L1 bid for both projects to Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. at a substantially higher project cost. L&T had initially challenged the MMRDA's decision to proceed with the opening of the price bids without the presence of L&T, and without communication of any disqualification to it, before the Bombay High Court. The same was dismissed via two orders on May 20, following which it approached the Supreme Court.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
City's new road and rail infra needs to iron out creases
MUMBAI: Prolonged birthing pangs involving dug-up roads, utility line disruptions and the erasure of old landmarks have finally yielded fruit. A shiny new web of transport infrastructure has gifted Mumbaikars several fast and convenient options to travel to work and get home. If only a few creases were ironed out, these road and rail networks would find greater utility and acceptance among commuters. Mumbai Mirror conducted an audit of Mumbai's modern transport initiatives, and found that the massive investment is yet to be justified given partial usage and low occupancy. 1) Mumbai Coastal Road Project: Full Completion Awaited Over a year since the Coastal Road was first opened to traffic, commuting from South Mumbai to Bandra has become remarkably seamless. What once seemed unthinkable--a 10-minute drive from Marine Drive to Bandra--is now a daily reality, thanks to this signal-free corridor built on reclaimed land. The pearly smooth road, however, will maximise its value once the entire necklace is strung. The Coastal Road still awaits full completion. Key infrastructure elements such as parking facilities, a planned vehicular underpass near the Worli stretch, and the much-anticipated open public spaces across 70 hectares of reclaimed land remain unfinished. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Currently, the Coastal Road sees a daily traffic volume of about 48,000 vehicles--24,375 heading southbound and 23,832 northbound. This is a substantial jump from the 18,000-20,000 vehicles recorded shortly after its partial opening in March 2024. The surge is largely due to the Jan 2025 opening of the southbound connector to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which has significantly boosted connectivity and encouraged more motorists to shift to the new route. The road was originally designed to handle approximately 1,30,000 vehicles per day across its fully operational 29.2km, eight-lane expanse till the western suburbs. Current usage stands at roughly 37% of this projected capacity as the entire length of road going till the suburbs isn't yet complete. Marine Drive resident Mahendra Hemdev says the road has made travel comfortable and predictable. "It's reassuring to know you can get from Marine Drive to Bandra in just 10 minutes. But my main concern is speeding. The cameras don't seem adequate, and that's something authorities need to address urgently," he says. Tushar Prabhoo , a resident of Navroji Gamadia Road off Pedder Road, shared similar sentiments. "Traffic near St Stephen's Church is definitely an issue once you exit the Breach Candy interchange, though Pedder Road itself is mostly clear now. Getting to Bandra is a breeze, but reaching the airport remains a challenge due to congestion and ongoing infrastructure work beyond that point," he said. Construction began around Nov 2018 and was to be completed in Nov 2023. However, the Covid-induced lockdown and a design change owing to resistance from Worli fisherfolk pushed the deadline of the final leg. The entire project is yet to see completion. The total project cost is Rs 13,983.8 crore which includes construction cost of Rs 9,383.7 crore and other administrative charges. (Coastal Road box) a) Restricted timings -- The 24x7 opening of the coastal road is still awaited -- It is open daily from 7am till midnight b) How many motorists have used it: 5m vehicles from the opening day of March 12, 2024, till Dec 31, 2024, says BMC c) Beautification of medians -- Tata Sons and affiliates are beautifying dividers along the road over an area of approximately 4.35km (4.8 hectares) from Priyadarshini Park to Worli. It will be funded through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund 2) MTHL Sees Low Traffic Despite Being a Major Connector, High Toll to Blame The much-awaited Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), touted as a game-changer for inter-city travel between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, is seeing a trickle of vehicles despite being a key infrastructure milestone. Official data reveals that actual usage of the sea bridge falls far short of projections, largely due to the steep toll charges. When it was opened to the public earlier this year, authorities estimated a daily traffic of nearly 70,000 vehicles. However, current figures hover between 23,000 and 26,000 vehicles per day--barely a third of the expected volume. Experts attribute the underwhelming numbers to the high toll fees--Rs 250 for a one-way trip by car, Rs 375 for a return journey, and even higher for commercial vehicles. While the bridge reduces travel time from Sewri to Chirle to under 20 minutes, many commuters, especially daily travellers, find the toll unaffordable. Prabhadevi resident Amey Samant said, "Unless the toll is rationalised or bundled into a more economical monthly pass, many will stick to traditional routes despite the traffic." The 21.8km sea bridge offers seamless travel with no signals or speed breakers, making it one of the most efficient corridors in the region. But efficiency alone isn't enough to draw in users if affordability remains a roadblock. A senior MMRDA official, while acknowledging the shortfall, said, "We are studying travel patterns and feedback. Traffic volumes may rise once the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport is operational. Also, the construction of the Sewri-Worli connector will boost traffic on this link as those staying in Bandra-Khar-Santacruz belt will use this corridor instead of going via Vashi." For now, the Rs 18,000-crore project remains underutilised--a stark reminder that connectivity without affordability limits public acceptance. 3) New Metro Rail Lines Struggle with Low Ridership Despite High Investment Despite adding several new Metro Rail corridors over the past year, Mumbai's ambitious urban transit network is operating at a fraction of its carrying capacity. Ridership on most new Metro lines remains as low as 20% to 30%, with authorities struggling to attract daily commuters. Lines like Metro 2A (Dahisar-DN Nagar) and Metro 7 (Dahisar East-Gundavali) were expected to ease congestion on Western Express Highway and Link Road. But ground reports show that rail coaches are often sparsely occupied, even during peak hours. Transport planners and commuters point to two major deterrents: Poor last-mile connectivity and relatively high ticket prices. "Many Metro stations are far from residential hubs or business districts. Autos and buses don't offer seamless connectivity," said Andheri resident Shraddha Jain, who reverted to taking her car after a week's trial. However, Borivali resident Rajesh Shah said, 'The 2A corridor line has a fair crowd size compared to Metro 7." By contrast, Metro Line 1 (Ghatkopar-Versova), which integrates well with the suburban railway network and has better feeder connectivity, continues to witness overcrowding. Ironically, this high-performing line still operates with 4-coach rakes despite repeated passenger demands for 6-coach upgrades. An MMRDA official said, "The line will definitely witness good crowds after Phase I of Line 9 (Dahisar-Kashigaon) becomes operational by the end of this year. Many from Mira-Bhayander belt will switch to Metro as it will offer direct connection to western suburbs on both, east and west side of the Western Railway tracks." The longest underground Metro 3, which as of now operates between Aarey JVLR and Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli, has a ridership of 50,000 but it is still way below the expected number of 5 lakh. However, a senior MMRCL official said "travel patterns take time to change and it will definitely attract a significant crowd when the full line is opened till Cuffe Parade in Aug." Dadar resident Ajit Shenoy said, "The authorities need to focus not just on constructing lines but ensuring that people can access them easily. The Metro network should work as a web, not in isolation." Unless these connectivity gaps are bridged and fares rationalised, the city's Metro dream risks remaining a white elephant. 4) Monorail : A Good Idea That Never Took Off Conceived as a sleek solution to Mumbai's east-west connectivity woes, the Monorail today stands as a cautionary tale in urban planning. Despite covering densely populated areas like Chembur , Wadala, and Jacob Circle, the 19.5-km corridor has failed to draw consistent ridership. Launched with much fanfare in 2014, the Monorail was expected to carry 1.5 to 2 lakh passengers daily. A decade later, it struggles to cross even 15,000 a day. Frequent breakdowns, long wait times, limited rakes and poor integration with other modes of transport are some of the key reasons behind the failure. The route passes through heavily populated zones, yet there are few feeder services or pedestrian-friendly pathways to attract commuters. Chembur resident Nandita Jadhav said, "It was built without proper planning for interchange hubs or seamless integration with the local train or Metro systems. It's like a disconnected ribbon running through the city." Operational reliability remains another concern. Commuters have often faced delays, cancellations and even safety hazards. At one point, the Monorail service was suspended for months following a fire incident. Even though the fare is relatively low (Rs 10-40), the lack of frequency and speed fails to justify the cost for daily office-goers. For many, a bus or shared auto is still more reliable. Sources within MMRDA admit the Monorail hasn't met expectations but maintain that efforts are being made to improve services. A senior MMRDA official said, 'The line is expected to gain more ridership after the Metro 2B (Mandale to Chembur) becomes operational. This connectivity will be crucial to those who want to travel to the island city." MMRDA sources said they will also deploy additional rakes only after Metro 2B and Metro 4 lines become operational. But as things stand, the Monorail—built at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore—remains a glossy, underperforming showpiece of a system that could have been so much more. The Monorail, often referred to as the "White Elephant", is hoping to recover from losses amounting to Rs 500 crore. Monorail's Phase I (Chembur to Wadala) became operational in Feb 2014, and the entire 20km stretch up to Jacob Circle was opened to commuters in March 2019. Currently, the Monorail operates 142 services at a frequency of 15 minutes.
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
India.com
19-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
BIG win for Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries emerged one of top contenders to develop Mumbai's 70 hectares of…, along famous…
Five months after the BMC's Expression of Interest (EoI) wherein it invited private companies and voluntary organisations to develop and maintain 70 hectares of the open land near the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), now Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has emerged as the top contenders in a proposal . A proposal to finalise RIL has been sent to the municipal commissioner's office. After the final approval, the agency will submit detailed designs along with a timeline, reported Indian Express. The 10.58-km Coastal Road, connects to Marine Drive's Princess Street Flyover and then to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). A 7.5-kilometre-long area is under construction out of which Tata Sons is developing the 5-hectare area. Out of the 111 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea, BMC wants to develop 70 hectares of open landscape as green pockets with gardens, cycling tracks and amphitheatres. Remaining 53 hectares, near Breach Candy to Worli, BMC was trying to find private companies to develop and maintain the open space for which an EOI was submitted. It invited private companies and voluntary organisations to design, develop and maintain this land. Five big companies like Jindal, Raymond, RPG foundation, Vedanta besides Reliance had shown interest in the proposal. The EOI is also looking for companies with previous experience of developing similar projects within the past five years. BMC had proposed nearly Rs. 400 crore as the cost of the project works but it will be developed through CSR funding of the finalised party. Even as the BMC had revealed a blueprint for the works between Priyadarshini Park to Worli in March 2024 it has not finalised any design. 'After the proposal is approved, we will send them a selection intimation. Upon their finalisation, the agency will then submit their design proposals, which will be approved by the civic body after checking whether their designs align with the CRZ norms and the Supreme Court guidelines,' reported Free Press citing sources.
