MTHL project gains momentum

The 22-km-long Sewri-Nhava Sheva Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) has gained momentum as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has received a crucial approval for conducting the pre-qualifications bidding process from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA is funding most of the scheme after giving an in principle approval for funding 85 per cent of the total project cost.

Subsequently, the MMRDA will invite pre-qualification bids on Wednesday, following which the firms who qualify will be eligible for bidding in the final bidding process.

“We are calling for global pre-qualification bids for the civil works where the companies will be given 45 days from the date of the floating of pre-qualification bids, which is from Wednesday,” said a senior MMRDA official.

The MTHL is a 22-km-long cable stay bridge and will be the second longest sealink in the world after the 42-km link between Qingdao to Huandao in China.

The MMRDA has short-listed four consultants who will evaluate the financial performance of the bidders, which also include scrutinising the company’s financial turnover followed by reviewing the drawings and other technicalities in terms of engineering aspects of the project once the authority has the quotations of all the pre-qualification bidders.

“Once we evaluate the bids, we will come out with a list of companies who will be eligible for the final bidding of the civil works for the project. The final bid for the project will be floated once the MMRDA signs a formal loan agreement by the JICA, which is expected to happen soon,” added the senior MMRDA official

The JICA has given in principle approval for funding 85 per cent of the total project cost, which is Rs 17,500 crore of which Rs 13,500 crore will be spent on civil works. The state and Centre are said to contribute the remaining 15 per cent.