MTHL receives good response

The Maharashtra state government’s ambitious Mumbai Trans Har bour Link (MTHL) project, which was embroiled in several issues, has received encouraging response with over 20 Indian and international construction companies expressing interest to design and construct the sea link. In the past the project faced problems including ‘unrealistic’ bids that resulted in the cancellation of the last tender and the state government opting to wholly fund the project’s construction.The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which will implement the sea link project, had invited Expression of Interest (EoI) on September 9 from contractors to design and construct the sea link on a turnkey basis. “We’ve received great response from companies across the world expressing interest in designing and constructing the sea link, including international firms,” said Samir Biswas, Joint Managing Director of MSRDC.
According to SB Nage, Chief Engineer, MSRDC, 22 companies responded to the EoI. “The who’s who of Indian construction firms have responded, while around 10 international companies have their expressed their interest,” Nage said. He said that companies like Lloyd’s construction, Gammon India Ltd, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, among others have shown interest to construct the 22.5 km sea link. The project involves construction of an approach road on Sewri side, bridge across intertidal zone on both sides, deep sea zone, via duct and embankments.
The tendering process, for this much delayed project has begun with the MSRDC giving out the tender notice on Wednesday. It is expected that the bids would be in by the third week of November, while the letter of acceptance after due evaluation of the bids is tentatively scheduled to be handed over by fourth week of January.The eight-lane sea link, which is estimated to cost around Rs 6,000 crore, is proposed to commence from Messant Road on eastern side of Sewri railway station on Harbour Line and traversing through the creek waters will meet the main land near Shivaji Nagar and terminate on National Highway 4B at Chirle in Navi Mumbai. The proposed sea link offers to cut the distance between the two locations by 15 km and reduce travel time from more than two hours to about 30 minutes. According to sources in the MSRDC, like the Bandra-Worli Sea Link that is being constructed on contract basis, the proposed MTHL could also be a cable-stayed bridge.