Nearly a year after it floated tender for the work, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed to find a consultant to help it prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for its ambitious coastal road.
The corporation had sought the request for proposal (RFP) for the project thrice, the first being made last February. However, only one firm responded then. Hence, it sought the RFP in March, and four companies responded. But the BMC found them not fitting the bill technically. When the corporation sought expression of interest for a third time after relaxing certain norms, two Mumbai-based agencies—Pentacle Consultants Private Limited and a consortium of Stup and Earnst and Young consultants—responded.
"Following technical scrutiny and financial bidding, the roads department has recommended the consortium of Stup and Earnst and Young Consultants, as the rate it quoted is lower," a senior official said.
Pentacle Consultants Private Limited and the consortium of Stup and Earnst and Young consultants had quoted Rs 9.9 crore and Rs 7.2 crore, respectively.
"A proposal in this regard will be put before standing committee for approval, most likely by February-end or March first week," the official added.
He said that to put the project on fast track, the consultant would have to prepare designs of those road components that won't require environmental clearance. "For instance, if there is a tunnel to be made, the consultant will have to carry out the feasibility study and soil testing for it. The works requiring Central clearance can wait," the official added.
The proposed 35.6-km road stretches between south Mumbai and Kandivli. The BMC is considering two options for constructing the arterial road. The first option is sea reclamation, costing Rs 8,000 crore; the second is to build the road on stilt through mangroves in areas like Bandra. This would cost Rs 1,000 more.
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