The projected cost of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 underground corridor might increase, as the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), fearing a delay in the project, is said to have accepted the higher quotation by bidders for civil works.
In a board meeting held to discuss tenders with the bidders on Friday, the MMRC sought clarification on the higher quotation to which the bidders responded saying that the MMRC’s calculation for the civil work is based on Delhi’s underground metros construction in 2011.
“The bidders said that geographically Mumbai is very different from Delhi. Also the challenges faced while constructing an underground corridor in Mumbai will vary from that of Delhi,” said an MMRC official not wishing to be named.
The bidders also pointed out that the estimated cost by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) in 2011 is not only outdated but also underestimated.
The MMRC official added, “We have decided that we will consult the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the issue of bidders’ claim as it is going to fund MMRC with around 57 per cent of the funds required for the completion of the project.”
However, Ashwini Bhide, managing director of the MMRC refused to comment on the matter.
The 33.5-km Metro-3 corridor will be the first underground corridor in the city with 27 stations.
According to the initial plan, the corridor will be ready by 2020. However, MMRC plans to complete the first phase of the project from Kanjurmarg to Seepz by 2018 for which the work is expected to start in the first quarter of 2017.
