MMRDA told to audit work given to tainted firms

| MEHUL R. THAKKAR

Published : Nov 2, 2016, 2:24 am IST

Updated : Nov 2, 2016, 2:24 am IST

The city civic body has suggested to state infrastructure agency Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) that it should appoint a third party consultant if contract for the extension

The city civic body has suggested to state infrastructure agency Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) that it should appoint a third party consultant if contract for the extension of the Santa Cruz Chembu Link Road (SCLR) was given to J Kumar Infra, which is a blacklisted firm in the `352 crore road repair scam.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and principal secretary of state environment department Satish Gavai, both members of the executive committee, issued the recommendation at the meeting of the MMRDA’s executive meeting that was carried out last month to discuss the extension of SCLR up to Vakola.

“For the said construction work there should be extra vigilance and we have proposed appointing a third party consultant for keeping a watch on the construction work,” read the minutes of the meeting.

The executive committee, MMRDA, headed by chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya met on September 20 and was discussing the four bids received for the work of extension of SCLR by connecting the LBS Marg, Kurla with Vakola on the Western Express Highway (WEH).

In the meeting MMRDA commissioner U.P.S. Madan, said the authority had got response from four bidders namely Simplex Infrastructure, J Kumar Infra, IL&FS engineering and NCCL.

Mr Madan, added, “In case of J Kumar infra the additional metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA had sought opinion from the advocate general of the state and the advocate general had given us suggestion to check the track record of J Kumar with MMRDA and it has opined that no blanket ban could be imposed on any of the contractor blacklisted in the road repair scam.”

“The review done by MMRDA on J Kumar’s track record was also satisfactory and it was only after taking an opinion from the advocate general that we went ahead with the opening of the financial bids of J Kumar,” Mr Madan said in the executive committee meeting. The 3 elevated two-lane extension will be constructed from the start at Kapadia Nagar in Kurla and end at Vakola junction.