Maha PWD proposes one year contract extension for Shivaji Memorial

20 Oct 2021 CW Team

The Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed an extension of one year for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial project work to L&T without cost escalation.

The government will grant the final extension for the project. The extension was stalled in January 2019, and the contractor carried out only the bathymetry and partial geotechnical survey. Except for these the whole construction work is remaining. The work at the project site has not started, and no payment has been made to the contractor.

The PWD had filed a court case against the project, raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's (CAGs) Accountant General regarding the bidding process and the Covid-19 pandemic. The current contract period ended on 18 October.

From 19th October 2018, the PWD signed a contract with L&T for 36 months. However, on 11th January 2019, the Supreme Court restricted the state government from proceeding with the construction work. A stop-work notice was issued by the PWD to the contractors.

Sources told the media that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had approached the project. PWD Minister, Ashok Chavan, said that the project would commence after satisfactory closure of the irregularities in the bidding process that were flagged by the CAG and after addressing the environmental department and safety raised in the court.

The CAG noticed that the previous government's decision of reducing the cost of the project by negotiating with the lowest bidder and changing the scope of the work had degraded the bidding process and restricted transparency in the procedure.

The project of 212 meters high includes a 123.2 metres equestrian statue standing over an 88.8 metres pedestal is a flagship of the Devendra Fadnavis governance. PM Narendra Modi did its jal pujan in 2016, and the estimated cost of the memorial is Rs 3,600 crore.

Image Source

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..