MMRDA moves ahead on Mumbai's Iconic Tower

Unfazed by its failure to attract bidders for the city’s two major infrastructure projects, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is going ahead with a special plan to woo global players with deep pockets for its Rs 4,100-crore iconic tower at Wadala. On Wednesday, the nodal agency floated global tenders inviting bids from consultants and infrastructure agencies to build the tower. While a few officials and experts doubt whether the plan to construct it on design, build, operate, own and transfer (DBOOT) basis would attract bidders in the backdrop of recession, a few point out that players from Dubai and China had already expressed interest in the project. “The new strategy is to attract firms which are involved in constructing skyscrapers in Dubai, China and South East Asia. Their projects are nearing completion and have the financial clout that is recessionproof,” said a senior official. Two projects of the MMRDA—the Rs 6,000-crore Sewri-Nhava transharbour link and the Rs 7,600-crore second line of the Mumbai Metro—did not get bidders. Infrastructure experts attached to MMRDA projects said the reason to kickstart the project early seems to be a political move as assembly polls are round the corner. “There are slums in Wadala. Even the residential areas are not streamlined. The road from Wadala to Chembur is in bad condition. Poor coordination of agencies has hit several projects and discouraged global players to come to India for such projects,” said experts. “To create a tower as part of Mumbai’s makeover to market it across the globe is not such a bad idea, but the priority should be to improve basic amenities in the area,’’ experts said. Only those firms which have already built mega structures with heights of 400 metres and above can participate in the bidding. Also, the companies should have completed two infrastructure projects worth not less than Rs 10 billion. Besides, the firms should have a net worth of about Rs 12,500 million or $400 million, government officials said.

The bus terminal at Wadala is finally being taken up for development with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority(MMRDA) inviting global players to build a multi-modal transport hub along with the commercial development of an iconic building there. The bus terminal project to be built on 115 hectares on design, build, operate, own and transfer (DBOOT) basis is estimated to cost around Rs 1,400 crore. The MMRDA wants the hub to be built to international specifications and tenders for the bids were floated on Wednesday. The terminal facilities include parking facilities for 50 buses to be parked at any given time and parking for at least 400 buses in all. It will be built mainly for private operators and state transport undertakings in the country operating to and from Mumbai. The amenities for passengers will be on a par with other international transport hubs and will include facilities for ticketing, cloak rooms, waiting rooms, a budget hotel with lodging and boarding, restaurants, food plaza, toilets, wash rooms and an effective public address information system.