MMRC denies info to RTI applicant

In response to a Right To Information (RTI) application filed by a Marine Lines resident, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), executing the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 underground corridor, refused to share a copy of the contract signed between the corporation and its contractor, citing it as "commercial confidence of third party" thus the document being exempted from disclosure under the RTI Act.

However, Jamshed Sukhadwala, the RTI applicant, has contended that copies of a government agency signing a contract is basic information, and the MMRC should be providing it to the public under section 4 of the RTI Act as suo motu disclosures.

Sukhadwala, had sought complete agreement/word order/contract signed between MMRC and Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC) as a lead partner in the joint venture with MMS of Russia. MMRC, in its reply, said, "As per section 11(1) of RTI Act, 2005 information related to the commercial confidence of a third party cannot be shared."

The contract between MMRC and HCC-MMS is for the construction of a 4,072-meter corridor for the underground Metro-3 line including four underground stations, and 3,115-meter long twin bored tunnels.

Sukhadwala, said, "This is totally wrong and the contract signed by MMRC with contractors is very much under public disclosure as per section 4 of RTI Act. This is the same MMRC that has provided me the copy of a loan agreement it signed with a Japanese bank for the funding of Metro-3."

An email query sent to MMRC on the same did not fetch a response until the time of going to the press.