BMC scraps desalination project tender
ECONOMY & POLICY

BMC scraps desalination project tender

BMC had scrapped the tendering process for the much-anticipated desalination project, which aimed to increase the city's water supply by 200 million liters per day (MLD), due to a lack of suitable bidders. Despite multiple deadline extensions since December 2023, the project failed to attract participants, leading civic authorities to investigate the reasons for the lack of interest.

The most recent bid extension ended on August 29. A senior civic official explained that, despite extending the deadline several times, they either received one bid or none at all. Therefore, it was decided to cancel the tendering process, as further extensions no longer seemed viable. However, the official assured that the project remained a priority and would not be rushed, adding that experts would be consulted to determine the reasons for the limited interest.

In February 2021, the BMC had appointed an Israeli company to draft a detailed proposal for the project. SMEC India was later hired in January 2022 to review the study and designs prepared by the Israeli firm. A tender notice was issued on December 4, 2023, for the construction of a plant to convert saline water into potable water.

Previously, Congress had raised allegations of cartelisation in the tender process, accusing the conditions of being manipulated to favour a specific bidder. They had called on the BMC to provide an explanation and urged the cancellation of the entire tender process if the allegations were proven true.

BMC had scrapped the tendering process for the much-anticipated desalination project, which aimed to increase the city's water supply by 200 million liters per day (MLD), due to a lack of suitable bidders. Despite multiple deadline extensions since December 2023, the project failed to attract participants, leading civic authorities to investigate the reasons for the lack of interest. The most recent bid extension ended on August 29. A senior civic official explained that, despite extending the deadline several times, they either received one bid or none at all. Therefore, it was decided to cancel the tendering process, as further extensions no longer seemed viable. However, the official assured that the project remained a priority and would not be rushed, adding that experts would be consulted to determine the reasons for the limited interest. In February 2021, the BMC had appointed an Israeli company to draft a detailed proposal for the project. SMEC India was later hired in January 2022 to review the study and designs prepared by the Israeli firm. A tender notice was issued on December 4, 2023, for the construction of a plant to convert saline water into potable water. Previously, Congress had raised allegations of cartelisation in the tender process, accusing the conditions of being manipulated to favour a specific bidder. They had called on the BMC to provide an explanation and urged the cancellation of the entire tender process if the allegations were proven true.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon to Build Guwahati Ring Road on BOT Toll Model

Ahmedabad-based Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon (DRA Infracon) has secured the 121 km Guwahati Ring Road project in Assam under the build, operate, and transfer (BOT) toll model. The company emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 49 billion project, committing to construct the highway without any grant from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).This marks NHAI’s first fully private-funded highway project in nearly three years. The Rs 52.79 billion Guwahati Ring Road project includes a three-km bridge on the Brahmaputra, with the company recovering its investment through toll coll..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

TKIL, KIS Partner to Boost Biogas in Clean Energy Push

In a strategic move to diversify its operations and support India’s clean energy goals, TKIL Industries (formerly thyssenkrupp Industries India) has entered the bio-chemicals sector through a new partnership with KIS Group, a global leader in sustainable biofuel technologies. The collaboration focuses on boosting Compressed Biogas (CBG) production using advanced technology and localized biomass resources. This association marks a significant step for TKIL Industries as it expands into the renewable energy space. By leveraging KIS Group’s expertise and proprietary technologies, the company..

Next Story
Real Estate

Noida & Jewar Set for Sharp Rise in Property Costs

Noida and Jewar may oversee significant price hikes for properties. This is due to a recent proposal from Gautam Buddha Nagar which outlines plans to increase circle rates, the minimum price at which a real estate property can be sold to a buyer as determined by the government, in both cities. This increase in circle rates would lead to an increase in the stamp duties a homebuyer would have to pay. Under the proposal, high-rise apartments in Noida may see a 20 per cent increase, while Greater Noida is set for a 30 per cent hike. The most substantial rise is expected in agricultural land pric..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?