Tender terms changed to lure bidders

With bidders turning their backs on the Rs 350 crore Inter State Bus Terminus project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to lure them back by changing the conditions of the tender.

With bidders turning their backs on the Rs 350 crore Inter State Bus Terminus project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to lure them back by changing the conditions of the tender.

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“We have changed the terms of the tender. It [the tender] will now be opened in July,” said MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar.

The MMRDA plans to set up a truck and interstate bus terminus on a 4.5-hectare plot at Wadala on a public-private partnership model. The trucks and buses that congest areas in the island city such as Masjid Bundar, Wadi Bundar and Carnac Bundar can park at the terminus.

After 18 companies bought the bid documents, seven firms evinced interest in going ahead with the project.

However, the seven firms — India Bulls, HDIL, JMV Infra projects, APR projects, Ramkay Infra, IVRCL Infra projects and Aparna Constructions — had some reservations about certain terms of the tender.

The MMRDA wanted the winning bidder to develop the terminus according to international standards, including world-class passenger platforms, food courts, cinema halls, departmental stores, budget hotels, convenience rooms, rest rooms and recreation centres. It also wanted the winning bidder to undertake the construction of two interchanges — for the north-bound traffic from the Eastern Express Highway to Anik-Wadala Road and a second flyover for manoeuvering the associated traffic in front of the terminal building.

As the bidders objected to building the interchanges, the MMRDA was forced to drop the clause.

The MMRDA, on Tuesday, had leased out a 25,000 sq mtr plot at the same place in Wadala for Rs 4.5 crore.