The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) standing committee cleared the ₹12,000-crore coastal road proposal by a majority on Tuesday.
Last week, the BMC had finalised contractors for all three phases of the 9.98-km road, which extends from Marine Lines to the Worli end of Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The BMC is in-charge of this section while Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is overseeing the Bandra-Versova Sea Link.
The contract for the first package from the Worli end of the sea link to Haji Ali was awarded at 12.35% more than the revised estimates to a joint venture of Hindustan Construction Company and Hyundai Development Corporation. Larsen and Toubro was selected to construct the stretch from Priyadarshani Park on Napeansea Road to Haji Ali at 1.94% more than the revised estimates.
L&T has also been awarded the contract to build the southernmost part — Princess Street flyover to Priyadarshini Park, which includes twin tunnels — at 10.43% more than the revised estimates. The BMC said the project would cost ₹12,721 crore owing to the rise in the rates of fuel and steel, cost of labour and material in Mumbai.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta gave a detailed presentation and answered queries of the standing committee members over the high cost of the project.
Mr. Mehta said of the total cost, ₹4,302 crore in taxes will come to the BMC, including ₹10 crore to build a butterfly park as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Of the project cost, 4% has been set aside as emergency fund.
Arriving at final cost
The BMC will earn ₹270 crore from renting out its space at octroi nakas. He said, “The BMC will gain ₹254 crore as interest on its mobilisation advance given to contractor. Thus, the final actual cost works out to ₹6,195 crore.” Soon after the meeting, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray congratulated Mumbaikars in a tweet. He also thanked party chief Uddhav Thackeray who ‘first presented the idea in 2013 and followed it through’.
Three parking lots will come up at Amarsons, Haji Ali and Worli interchanges, with a combined capacity to accommodate 1,625 cars. One jetty each will be built at Amarsons and Worli.
A BMC official said the parking lots would be built underground and appropriate agencies would ensure that the jetties are not dismantled, but put to use.
The BMC claimed that the road would save 70% travel time and 34% fuel every year. The BMC has paid consultants ₹246 crore for the project. As per the contract, the project needs to be completed within four years.