BMC initiates process of inviting new tenders for CC roads in SoBo

A month after terminating the Rs 16.87 billion Cement Concrete (CC) road contract for South Mumbai, the BMC has now initiated the process of inviting new tenders for CC roads in the same region. The estimated amount for the new tender, set at Rs 13.62 billion plus 18% GST, closely mirrors the value of the previously terminated contract. Expressing dissent over the BMC's decision to pursue another sizable tender, former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar penned a letter to municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal, urging the cancellation of the mega tender. Narwekar proposed the issuance of smaller tenders on a ward-wise basis for South Mumbai instead. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticised the BMC, questioning the apparent reduction in the cost of the new tender by Rs 3 billion. BMC officials have outlined a schedule where bids will be unveiled by the end of December, with new work orders expected in early to mid-January. However, Narwekar expressed concern, noting that this timeline allows only five months of favourable weather for the BMC to conclude the work before the onset of the monsoon in June next year. Narwekar emphasised the need for a more efficient approach, stating, Almost a month after cancelling the CC road contract following my letters, BMC published an advertisement inviting bids for the CC roads in South Mumbai. I wrote a letter to the municipal commissioner expressing my strong opposition. I don't foresee the completion of CC road works in South Mumbai before the monsoon arrives. Therefore, the only viable solution is to divide this mega tender into smaller ward-wise tenders to expedite the completion of CC road works.