Civic body scraps Expression Of Interest and jumps on to next stage of Request For Proposal
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems to be in a hurry to implement the multi-crore Coastal Road project as it has cancelled the Expression Of Interest (EOI) process only to jump on to the next stage of Request For Proposal (RFP).
In mid-July, the civic body had opened bids for EOI from national and global firms for a second opinion on the draft of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Coastal Road project. The need for a review of the plans was necessitated as resident groups and environmentalists pointed out flaws in the DPR. The DPR for a road between Nariman Point and Kandivli was made public on June 24 by inviting suggestions from the public.
"The EOI for a review of the DPR and to handle the bid process management have been cancelled. EOI has now been replaced by RFP, which we have now invited," confirmed the Coastal Road Cell of BMC.
This 34km-long road which is to be made through reclamation has attracted opposition from resident groups, environmentalists and transport analysts as they are of the opinion that the project will only promote ownership of private vehicles when there is a need to improve public transportation systems.
The proposal worth Rs10,000 crore was gathering dust for the past few years due to environmental laws that do not allow reclaiming land from sea for road projects. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms are being modified accordingly to make room for this big-ticket project and the Ministry of Environment and Forest has already given its nod to the project.
On April 7, dna was the first to report about state opting for Coastal Road instead of a string of sea links on Mumbai's western coast. This project will have four lanes with two corridors reserved for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). There are also a plan to have a metro line on this proposed road.
The project will have two undersea tunnels. The estimated completion time is within 5-6 years at one-sixth cost of sea links on western Mumbai.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "BMC Office")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}