The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Monday awarded contracts to design and construct the 16.5-km Metro-VII corridor from Andheri East to Dahisar East to three infrastructure companies. The corridor is expected to cost Rs 6,208 crore
The executive committee of the MMRDA headed by Chief Secretary Swadhin Kshatriya granted approval to the appointment of contractors for the project, and recommended Simplex Infrastructure Ltd, J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd and NCC Ltd to design and construct an elevated viaduct and 16 stations on the Metro-VII corridor in three packages.
Civic officials said Simplex will design and construct the first package comprising an elevated viaduct and five elevated stations – Andheri (E), Shankarwadi, JVLR Junction, Mahanand and new Ashok Nagar, while JKumar Infraprojects will construct the second package comprising an elevated viaduct and six elevated stations — Aarey, Dindoshi, Pathan Wadi, Pushpa Park, Bandongri and Mahindra & Mahindra.
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The third infrastructure firm, NCC Ltd, has been selected to design and construct the third package comprising an elevated viaduct and five elevated stations — Magathane, Devipada, National Park, Ovaripada and Dahisar (E).
The MMRDA has set an ambitious 30-month deadline for the contractors to complete the entire corridor and all 16 stations. They are also expected to clear initial works including utility mapping, traffic permissions, making alternative traffic arrangements and adding lanes on the Western Express Highway before the monsoon sets in.
In all, 16 firms including Hindustan Construction Co (HCC Ltd), Reliance Infrastructure, Larsen & Toubro and Tata had attended the pre-bid meeting. Of these, nine had submitted final bids. Bids for the 18.5-km elevated metro corridor between Dahisar and DN Nagar are also expected to be finalised this week. The government has already appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as a consultant to finish all pre-bid work.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed the bhoomipujan for both projects during his visit to Mumbai in October 2015. Interestingly, the MMRDA revised the cost for the Andheri (E) to Dahisar (E) line from Rs 4,737 crore to Rs 6,208 crore, while the project cost for the Dahisar-DN Nagar metro corridor has shot up since October from Rs 4,994 crore to Rs 6,410 crore.
The corridor will
be done in three packages by three firms and has a
30-month deadline
MMRDA official