Hyderabad's Megha Engg wins Rs 144 bn Thane-Borivali tunnel tender

Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), a Hyderabad-based company, has successfully secured two separate contracts for the prestigious Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project in Mumbai, with a combined bid value of Rs 144 billion. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had invited tenders in December 2022 for the civil construction work of the 11.84 km Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project, divided into two packages, with a four-year deadline for completion.

During the opening of technical bids in April, only two companies, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and MEIL, participated in the bidding process. After careful scrutiny of the financial bids on April 25, MEIL emerged as the lowest bidder for the first package, 'Package 1,' with a bid of Rs 74.64 billion. This package involves the design and construction of a 5.75 km section of the twin tunnel project from the Borivali side. L&T submitted the lowest bid of Rs 66.25 billion for 'Package 2,' entailing the design and construction of a 6.09 km section from the Thane side.

However, L&T's bid was later disqualified because they inadvertently failed to include the necessary tax component, as required by the tender guidelines, when stating their bid amount as the final figure. "We have awarded the letter of offer to MEIL after they emerged as the best bidder. L&T challenged this in the High Court, but their plea was rejected," stated MMRDA Commissioner SVR Srinivas. MEIL successfully secured the contract for the second package with a bid of Rs 69.37 billion.