Worli - Haji Ali Sealink

The Rs 3,000-crore sealink project between Worli and Haji Ali is likely to be started by the year-end.The Maharashtra state government has asked infrastructure majors, including the Ambani brothers, to submit their financial bids for the project by the end of next month.According to the managing director of MSRDC, Satish Gavai, some infrastructure giants that have lined up to bag the project include Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), L&T, Shapoorji Pallonji, IL&FS, IndiaBulls and Gammon India. “Both domestic and multinational majors are interested in the project. We wanted all of them to submit their bids by Augustend but most of the companies requested us to extend the period by a month. By October, the final project winner will be in place,’’ public works minister Anil Deshmukh said.According to sources, since HCC is in the final leg of completion of the Bandra-Worli sealink, it appears to be a strong contender for the new endeavour with its men and material already in place. “If we hand it over to any other company other than HCC, the logistics will take some time to be in place. We are already lagging behind schedule,’’ sources in the state administration said.Alleged differences over non-payment between the state government and HCC had halted the Bandra-Worli Sealink’s construction for some time.