The construction cost has partially increased due to special steel being used for the construction of the memorial
The construction cost of the 350-foot long Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial has increased for the fourth time in the past two years from Rs 435 crore to Rs 622 crore. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Saturday said that the construction cost has partially increased due to special steel being used for the construction of the memorial.
The MMRDA on Thursday re-floated bids for its construction after receiving a poor response in the bids floated earlier in April 2017, in which the current cost is Rs 622 crore.
In consecutive years, the construction cost of the project has seen a steady increase. While the initial cost of the project was estimated to be Rs 435 crore, in 2016, it was estimated to be around Rs 500 crore.
Further, in April 2017, the bids were floated at an estimated cost of Rs 550 crore, and the same was revised to Rs 591 crore in the last week of June.
UPS Madan, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, told DNA that the cost escalation is due to special steel requirement. "It must be because of the special steel requirement. Last time, the amount was enhanced at the time of a pre-bid meeting," Madan said.
With the memorial being close to the Arabian Sea, the chances of corrosion are high. MMRDA had also sought the opinion of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) regarding the use of stainless/anti-corrosion steel.
This will also mean that the MMRDA will miss the deadline set by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had recently during a review meeting, said that the work order for construction of the memorial would be given by November 15, 2017.
OVER THE YEARS
2015
Rs435 crore
2016
Rs 500 crore
April 2017
Rs 550 crore
June 2017
Rs 591 crore
Nov 2017
Rs 622 crore
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