Defending the toll charge, Rahul Asthana said motorists will save huge amount of petrol as well as time once they vroom past the sea link.
With the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is all set to start the construction of the 22km-long Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), top officials of the authority have revealed that the toll for crossing the longest sea bridge in the country is likely to be up to Rs200.
It will take at least five years to complete the sea bridge. “We are expecting the toll rates to be about Rs200,” said metropolitan commissioner Rahul Asthana.
Defending the toll charge, Asthana said motorists will save huge amount of petrol as well as time once they vroom past the sea link. “The 22km distance will definitely save a lot of fuel. Moreover, motorists will also save time by travelling on the MTHL. We are yet to arrive at a concrete toll rate for the sea link. However, I am sure people will definitely utilise the MTHL by paying the toll,” said Asthana.
The MMRDA on Wednesday released the “Request for Qualification” (RFQ) document for the bidders across the globe.
“We have set a number of parameters for the prospective bidders to qualify in the tendering of this longest sea link in the country. Those who qualify these parameters will only get a chance to bid for the project. We are expecting a serious response worldwide since the non-refundable “Earnest Money Deposit” (EMD) is a whopping 1% of the total project cost, which is approximately Rs80 crore. Hence, we do not expect non-serious bidders to spoil the party,” said Asthana.
Meanwhile, the authority officials are not leaving any stone unturned to see to it that the bidding process is successfully completed. A number of sweeteners and lollipops are in the offing for the purpose.
“We are in talks with the City Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) to offer the bidder a plot approximately of 10 hectare. The bidder can develop the plot on lease and can yield extra revenue from the project. We are expecting the viability gap of 40% in the project. Out of which 20% will be contributed by the MMRDA and the Centre each. We may opt for a soft loan of 20% of the total project cost of Rs8,800 crore. All this would mean that the successful bidder may initially have to invest only 40% of the total project cost,” said Asthana.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}