The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to extend the submission deadline for its Rs 23.7 billion legacy waste bioremediation tender at the Deonar landfill, following queries raised by prospective bidders. Around 21 companies and consultants attended the pre-bid meeting on May 23 for the large-scale remediation project.

Key concerns included the availability of additional land for depositing treated waste, the feasibility of removing 18.5 million tonnes of legacy waste within the proposed three-year period, and the procedures for securing environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances. Participants also requested that a dedicated nodal officer be appointed to facilitate regulatory approvals.

“Given the complexity of the project, bidders have requested additional time to review the documentation. The current deadline of June 3 is likely to be extended,” a civic official confirmed.

The Deonar landfill, spanning 120 hectares, has been operational since 1927 and remains a major environmental burden due to its towering heaps of untreated waste. On May 14, BMC issued the tender to initiate large-scale remediation of the site.

The ambitious project involves clearing 18.5 million tonnes of waste using 1,200 vehicles to transport approximately 2,300 tonnes daily, with an estimated completion timeline of three years. The move is seen as a critical step towards addressing Mumbai’s longstanding solid waste management challenges.