The DBLR is an ambitious project of the BMC through which it intends to connect Dahisar in northernmost tip of Mumbai with the satelite town of Mira-Bhayander. (Representational image)
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Nearly eight months after floating the tenders, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shortlisted three bidders for constructing the Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road (DBLR).
According to civic officials, nine firms had submitted their bids, out of which, three firms — J Kumar Infraprojects Limited, Larsen and Toubro and Afcons infrastructure Limited were shortlisted for constructing the project.
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P. Velrasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) confirmed the development with The Indian Express on Wednesday.
The DBLR is an ambitious project of the BMC through which it intends to connect Dahisar in northernmost tip of Mumbai with the satelite town of Mira-Bhayander. The project is supposed to be the final phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), which will connect the island city and suburban belt.
The tenders for DBLR project was floated in October 2022, and the BMC had kept a six month window for finalising the contractors.
However, between March and July this year, the deadline for this project has been postponed more than four times owing to inadequate bids received from agencies.
Civic officials said that at present the submitted bids will be evaluated, following which work order for this project will be issued.
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“The bids will be evaluated by us so that we can issue the work orders at the best possible rate. This is a high cost project and we need to carry out detailed assessment of all the plans and blueprints of this project before awarding the final work order to the shortlisted agency,” said an official.
The official said that the executing agency will be finalised by the end of this month.
Pegged at a cost of Rs 3,186 crore, this proposed elevated road will be 5.6 kilometer long, out of which 1.5 kilometer will be under the jurisdiction of BMC, while the remaining will be under the jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).
The BMC is the planning and executing agency for the project and the primary objective of creating this arterial road is to declutter the daily traffic movement at Dahisar Check Naka from where vehicles pass towards Vasai, Virar, Palghar, Gujarat and northwards to Delhi via Western Express Highway which further extends as National Highway 48.
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The elevated bridge will be 45 meters wide and will be built on stilts. It will have 4×4 lanes, to allow smooth traffic flow. Civic officials said that emergency lanes for passing emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire-brigade engines will also be created in both sides.
The BMC is also exploring options to create a multi-level car parking and a transport bay beneath this arterial road.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
