Consultant Fees for Coastal Road Project Soar to Rs.760 Mn

02 Aug 2024 CW Team

The coastal road project, aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity along Mumbai's western coastline, has been a high-priority infrastructure initiative. Initially, the consultancy fee was pegged at ?170 million, but unforeseen complexities and extended timelines have substantially inflated this figure.

Several factors have contributed to the surge in consultancy fees. The project's technical challenges, including dealing with coastal regulations, environmental clearances, and land acquisition issues, have necessitated additional expertise and extended the consultancy duration. The need for specialised studies, design modifications, and continuous advisory services to navigate these hurdles has further driven up costs.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has defended the increased expenditure, citing the critical nature of expert consultation in ensuring the project's successful and timely completion. However, the rising costs have sparked debate among city officials, with some calling for a review of the consultancy agreements and a closer examination of the financial oversight mechanisms in place.

Despite the financial concerns, the coastal road project continues to progress, with significant portions already completed or nearing completion. The project promises to provide substantial long-term benefits by reducing travel time, alleviating traffic congestion, and improving the overall infrastructure of Mumbai.

As the project advances, ensuring cost efficiency and maintaining transparency in expenditures will be crucial. The MMRDA and other authorities involved must balance the need for expert consultation with prudent financial management to deliver the coastal road project within the budget while meeting its intended objectives.

The consultancy fees for Mumbai's coastal road project have escalated significantly, rising from the initial estimates to a staggering ?760 million. Over the past five years, this cost has multiplied four times, raising concerns among stakeholders and the public regarding the project's financial management. The coastal road project, aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity along Mumbai's western coastline, has been a high-priority infrastructure initiative. Initially, the consultancy fee was pegged at ?170 million, but unforeseen complexities and extended timelines have substantially inflated this figure. Several factors have contributed to the surge in consultancy fees. The project's technical challenges, including dealing with coastal regulations, environmental clearances, and land acquisition issues, have necessitated additional expertise and extended the consultancy duration. The need for specialised studies, design modifications, and continuous advisory services to navigate these hurdles has further driven up costs. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has defended the increased expenditure, citing the critical nature of expert consultation in ensuring the project's successful and timely completion. However, the rising costs have sparked debate among city officials, with some calling for a review of the consultancy agreements and a closer examination of the financial oversight mechanisms in place. Despite the financial concerns, the coastal road project continues to progress, with significant portions already completed or nearing completion. The project promises to provide substantial long-term benefits by reducing travel time, alleviating traffic congestion, and improving the overall infrastructure of Mumbai. As the project advances, ensuring cost efficiency and maintaining transparency in expenditures will be crucial. The MMRDA and other authorities involved must balance the need for expert consultation with prudent financial management to deliver the coastal road project within the budget while meeting its intended objectives.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..