BMC’s multi-modal tunnel project gets boost as two international consultants express interest

According to preliminary estimates, the project is slated to cost the civic body Rs. 4,392 crore, with each 6-km tunnel proposed to cost Rs. 732 crore.

It was in February 2024 that the civic body had floated a tender seeking the appointment of a project management consultant (PMC) to conduct feasibility studies and prepare a master plan for the project as well as overlook the bid management and overall multimodal connectivity project. The tender, however drew feeble responses while the bidding process was also struck by technical challenges. Giving fresh impetus to the project over a year later, the BMC in July, this year, reuploaded the tender – in continuation to its previous 2024 tender – with some revised provisions.

While the final bid for the tender is slated to be opened on August 19, senior officials from the BMC confirmed with The Indian Express that at least two international consultants have expressed interest in the project.

“The scope of the project is massive and this is amongst the most ambitious projects of the BMC. For the work, we floated a global tender back in February 2024. As of July, at least two international consultants have expressed interest in carrying out the project work. However, the final packet of the tender bid is expected to close, later in the month,” said a senior official from BMC.

According to officials, consultants will be tasked with conducting traffic studies, gauging the feasibility as well as preparing a design for the layout of the tunnel network. “The scope of the project is very wide. In the first phase, the tunnels will be planned only in some pockets. To prepare a road map of the tunnel network, the consultants will be appointed to first study the high traffic zones, check feasibility, finalise the locations as well as prepare designs for the tunnel network,” an official told Express.

Even as the tender to rope in a consultant had been first floated in February 2024, the tender has remained stuck in stasis amid paucity of bidders.

Responding to questions about the delay, officials pointed to the vast scope of work as well as technical challenges in the bidding process. Meanwhile, some sources have also alluded that the project has remained on the backburner owing to the project triggering more vehicular congestion in light of the array of works already unfolding in the city.