L&T, Tata Among 9 in Fray for Colaba-Seepz Metro Project

Mumbai: Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls scheduled for October 15, the Rs 23,136-crore Colaba-Seepz Metro project, which is the single largest infra investment in the megapolis to date, got off to a flying start with nine out of the 14 bidders clearing the eligibility criteria.

As many as 14 consortia put up their bids for proposals in the pre-bidding process, out of which nine cleared the eligibility criteria for the 32.5-km underground metro, according to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The nine consortia which have qualified in the pre-bid process include Pallonji Mistry's Afcons Infrastructure- Kyivmetrobud; the Tatas-led Continental Engineering Corporation-ITD Cementation India-Tata Projects; Dogus-Soma, and IL&FS Engineering & Construction-China Railway 25th Bureau Group.

J Kumar Infraprojects-China Railway 3 Engineering Group, L&T-Shanghai Tunnel Engineering, OSJC Moscow Metrostroy-Hindustan Construction Company, Pratibha Industries-Guandong Tuantian Engineering, and Unity Infraprojects-IVRCL-China Railway Tunnel Group are the remaining consortia.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), which is implementing the mega project, will now issue request for proposal and the process is expected to be completed by December after which the work is likely to commence from next year.

On August 26, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had laid the foundation stone of the project paving way for the commencement of construction work which is being implemented on EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) basis.

The MMRC had invited re-qualification bids last September. However, due to certain issues raised by bidders on the eligibility criteria, the MMRC re-invited the bids for detailed design and construction of underground stations and tunnels bids on January 31.

In July, MMRC had invited tenders for civil and other development work at the metro car depot worth Rs 129.32 crore in Aarey Colony, Goregaon.

The government has signed a loan agreement with Japanese funding agency JICA which will provide nearly 57 per cent of the total cost of the project, or Rs 13,235 crore.

The Centre and the state will equally contribute the remaining 43 per cent equity for the project. Further, Rs 777 crore will also be borne by the Mumbai International Airport, since the metro will pass through the MIAL areas.

The Colaba-Seepz Metro will comprise 27 stations, out of which 26 will be underground and the one at the Aarey Colony, Goregaon, will be at the ground level.

The corridor is expected to carry 13.9 lakh commuters daily by 2021 and 17 lakh by 2031.

The 27 Metro stations are Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate, Hutatma Chowk, CST, Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk, Worli, Siddhi Vinayak, Dadar, Shitaladevi Temple, Dharavi, BKC, Vidya Nagari, Santacruz, Domestic Airport, Sahar Road, International Airport, Marol Naka, MIDC, Seepz and Goregaon.