The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced the initiation of a significant road expansion project. This development comes as a crucial response to the severe gridlock that has plagued the corridor, impacting daily commutes and local traffic flow.
The expansion project, greenlit earlier this month, was discussed and approved during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The MMRDA is now actively seeking bids for the construction work, which is poised to transform the road infrastructure between Gaimukh and Bhayandar. Spanning a total length of 15.5 kilometres, the project is set to incorporate a dual approach to modernisation. This includes the creation of an underground tunnel extending from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel Junction and an elevated roadway from the Fountain Hotel Junction to Bhayandar.
The project is designed to accommodate the burgeoning traffic demands and significantly reduce the current congestion levels. The estimated cost of the entire venture is approximately INR 20,000 crore, reflecting the scale and ambition of the undertaking. For prospective contractors, the financial stakes are high. Bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of INR 41.14 crore for the tunnel construction segment and INR 28.48 crore for the elevated road section.
Each phase of the project must be completed within a stipulated timeframe of four and a half years, which includes a two-year defect liability period to ensure quality and durability. A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for August 8 at the MMRDA office in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), providing potential bidders an opportunity to clarify project specifics before the formal submission process. The deadline for submitting bids is set for September 19, marking a critical milestone in the project’s timeline.
