An Adani-led joint venture (JV) has emerged as the lowest bidder for Phase 3 of the Mithi River Rejuvenation Project. The consortium, comprising Adani Road Transport Limited, Ashoka and Aakshya, outbid Hindustan Construction Company and Afcons Infrastructure Limited, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) tender portal. A final evaluation of the bid is currently in progress.

The JV’s offer was negotiated down to 7.1 per cent above the base estimate but remains higher than the revised Rs 17 billion cost. Phase 3 marks the final and long-delayed stage of the major rejuvenation effort, which aims chiefly to divert sewage from the Mithi River and reduce monsoon flooding.

Initially announced in 2023, the phase has faced repeated delays, with earlier tenders cancelled due to limited bidder interest and challenges in relocating project-affected persons. The tender was relaunched in February 2023 with an estimated cost of Rs 23 billion. Continued lack of response and severe flooding in 2025 forced the BMC to issue a scaled-down tender with a reduced cost of Rs 17 billion.

The current scope focuses on desilting and cleaning the river, constructing sewage interceptors for non-monsoon months, laying additional sewer lines and ensuring sewage diversion into the main network. The works also include building a retaining wall, widening and deepening a 300-metre section of the river, and constructing service roads. Eighteen flood-control gates will now be built, down from the earlier plan of 25. An 8-kilometre riverside promenade has been dropped. “This will not eliminate the need for annual desilting,” a storm water drains department official noted.

Political criticism has accompanied the tender outcome. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant reiterated earlier allegations that the tender structure favoured select companies. He said, “After handing over Mumbai’s port, airport, infrastructure projects, data centres, electricity distribution, transport services, land parcels and major city projects to the Adani Group, the BJP-run administration has now given the Mithi River cleaning project to the group as well.”

A senior BMC official rejected the claims, emphasising that the process adhered strictly to procurement norms. “We typically award to the lowest bidder, which is why the joint venture has been shortlisted. The other two bidders quoted well above the base estimate,” the official said.