MMRDA seeks security nod from Centre for MTHL

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has sought security clearance from the Central government over construction of the 22-km-long Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) connecting Sewri and Nhava-Sheva. Considering the construction site is in close vicinity of two major ports of India — the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) on one side and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on the other, a security clearance is required from the Union home ministry.

Both these ports have restricted areas where the Official Secret Act is in force. Also, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is also in the vicinity, which is crucial from a security point of view. The MMRDA has submitted the name of the companies that have bided for the project and the name of the countries to which they belong. The Centre will grant security clearance after consultations with various ministries including home and external affairs and intelligence agencies.  

Sanjay Khandare, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, confirmed the development.

The MMRDA has received bids from companies located in India, China, Japan, Korea, Italy and Thailand. A senior MMRDA official said, “We have to send all our communication to the Centre via the Union urban development ministry and it represents ourselves with the homes ministry. Once the security clearance is sought we would shortlist the bidders and aim to commence the civil works on the project after monsoon.”

The MMRDA a week ago also signed a loan agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for first instalment of the loan amount. JICA is funding 85 per cent of the total project cost, which is Rs 17,500 crore. Out of this, Rs 13,500 crore will be spent on civil works.