The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ambitious robo parking project in Worli has seen a surprising 30% cost increase even before the project’s tender was awarded.
The civic body announced a tender in March 2023 for the multilevel electro-mechanical car parking system project, which was initially estimated to cost INR 165 crore. However, all bids exceeded the estimated cost, leading to the tender’s cancellation in October 2023.
Later, the cost increased to INR 216 crore when the tender was relaunched in December 2023. This was done without making any significant changes to the tender requirements. Reports suggest that the cost was increased due to a project management consultant appointed by the BMC.
The project is a G+23-story building with two basement floors. It was designed to provide parking spaces for 640 vehicles.
It has also been reported that the consultant made several changes to the tender requirements without informing the BMC’s office. These changes included extending the project duration and raising the price variance cap. Activists have claimed that data shows that the cost per parking space for the Worli project was significantly higher than such projects in Mumbadevi and Matunga.
Earlier, there were also irregularities reported in the multilevel parking schemes in Mumbadevi and Matunga. Despite multiple correspondences from senior BMC officials and other departments, the BMC has not investigated these claims.
The BMC has continued to award tenders for these projects, despite the lack of no objection certifications.
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