Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), after a recently held meeting, decided to assign the pending work of the Mandale Depot to a new contractor, after the previous two contractors failed to deliver the same on time.
The depot work is a part of Metro 2B line which connects DN Nagar and Mandale. Reports state that the work was assigned to the first contractor in January 2018 at INR 390.43 crores, post which it was transferred to the second contractor for INR 467.75 crores. Despite the amount and time spent, both the contractors were not able to deliver the completed projects, and so far only 7 per cent of the actual work is said to be completed.
Consider the gap, a new contractor, Ahluwalia Contracts Pvt Ltd, has been assigned the project, at a cost 14 per cent higher than the previous, taking the same up to INR 530.32 crore. Information regarding the same was mentioned in the report released after the executive meeting. Three bids were received for the contract and Ahluwalia Contracts Pvt Ltd was given the project after thorough consideration of the cost.
Experts state that the reason for the increase in the cost is also due to the amount charged by the labours post the COVID-19 lockdown. Metro 2B line is expected to be functional by 2022.
In a similar manner, another contract for the Metro-7 line connecting Dahisar East and Andheri East was also terminated with a firm, due to delays. A new contractor was assigned the project at a higher cost, and the line is expected to be operational by May 2021.
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