Bandra-Worli sea link toll: Contract awarded to same contractor, hike in charges next year

Mumbai city news: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has awarded toll collection rights for the Bandra Worli Sea Link to Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL) , the only bidder, after it failed to attract companies thrice

Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has awarded toll collection rights for the Bandra Worli Sea Link to Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL) , the only bidder, after it failed to attract companies thrice.

According to the bidding conditions, the contract would be awarded to the company which makes an upfront payment of Rs360 crore to the MSRDC to securitise toll. (HT)

MEPL has been collecting toll for the 5.6km Sea Link and has been maintaining it since 2009.

The firm will now collect toll for another three years — till 2020. However, the toll has not been revised. Motorists will continue to pay the same toll until the next revision, due next year. “The MSRDC board has decided to award the contract to MEP, which was the sole bidder,” confirmed KV Kurundkar, joint managing director, MSRDC.

According to the bidding conditions, the contract would be awarded to the company which makes an upfront payment of Rs360 crore to the MSRDC to securitise toll.

The MSRDC awarded the contract to MEPL, which offered it Rs325 crore. “MEPL will make an upfront payment, after which the work order will be issued to them,” Kurundkar added.

Senior MSRDC officials said that they made three attempts to get more bidders but not many companies expressed interest. The amount that MEPL has offered is around 10% lower than what the corporation wanted. “We could go on with the tendering process but there aren’t any companies interested in bidding,” an official said.

The eight-lane sea link, which was opened to the traffic in 2009, was part of a larger plan to upgrade the road transportation network of greater Mumbai. It was constructed to provide an additional outlet from the Island city into the suburbs.