BMC re-floats tender, cost up by 31% from Rs 165 cr to Rs 216 cr

The BMC’s documents state that the Project Management Consultant (PMC) has submitted a revised estimate to the authorities that showed a cost escalation above 30 per cent. “It is pertinent to submit here that the design and drawings of revised tender is same as earlier tender, however, there has been an increase in estimated cost from Rs 164 crore, to Rs 216 crore,” the BMC’s document stated.

When contacted, a civic official said that cost has been revised considering the delay in deadline and the need to complete the project within a shorter span of time. The official also maintained that a partial increment of the cost has been considered by keeping in mind inflation rate of raw materials.

“It will take at least two months to finalise the contractor and the work order would be issued one month after that and the construction will also take two years, this will cost us some time for which we have to keep in mind the rate of inflation as well,” the official added.

The BMC’s tender also mentions that the finalised bidder will be responsible for maintaining the lot for 20 years, apart from constructing and designing it.

According to civic sources these parking lots will have multiple platforms that will be operated by a shuttle and dolly system. This system provides maximum usage of parking space since it can accommodate a vehicle in each of the platforms.

To expand the existing infrastructure of vehicular parking in Mumbai, the BMC has mooted the idea of creating multilevel underground parking lots at multiple locations in the city and suburbs, including Flora and Fountain at Hutatma Chowk, Worli, Mumbadevi, Mahim and Bandra.

While the Bandra project has hit a roadblock following protests from local residents for digging the Patwardhan Park, where the proposed parking lot was supposed to be built, the authorities went ahead with the remaining sites. The Worli site will have a capacity to accommodate 640 cars, while the one at Hutatma Chowk will be able to accommodate 176 cars.