he BMC is the planning and executing agency for this project, being taken up primarily to declutter traffic movement at Dahisar Check Naka from where vehicles move towards Vasai, Virar, Palghar, Gujarat and northwards to Delhi via the Western Express Highway.
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The BMC earlier this month extended the deadline of the tender it issued for the construction of the Dahisar Bhayander Link Road (DBLR) by two weeks.
The tender for the project was floated last October. As the six-month deadline to receive bids was to get over on March 10, the BMC extended the same by two weeks to March 24, said officials.
The DBLR aims to connect Dahisar, the northernmost tip of the western suburbs, with satellite town of Bhayander. The BMC is the planning and executing agency for this project, being taken up primarily to declutter traffic movement at Dahisar Check Naka from where vehicles move towards Vasai, Virar, Palghar, Gujarat and northwards to Delhi via the Western Express Highway. It is also known to be the last leg of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, through which BMC intends to connect Nariman Point, the southernmost tip of island city, with the western suburbs.
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Officials said DBLR – pegged at Rs 3,186 crore – being a key infrastructure project, bidders are raising multiple queries before submitting bids.
“This is a big-ticket project… queries related to the design outlay and implementation of this project are being received continously. The road will also pass through mangrove patches and creeks, which may require environmental clearances. Over the last few months, we have been receiving multiple queries from potential bidders and it is taking some time to reply them at once,” said an official.
“Therefore, we decided to extend the deadline by two weeks, since it will give us some time to understand and answer their queries. If adequate number of bidders don’t submit bids, then the BMC may lose out a chance of comparing the price rates, resulting in financial loss. Also, not having enough bidders may delay the project, which may also lead to cost escalation,” the official added.
The proposed elevated road, with four lanes on both sides, will be 5.6-km long, of which while 1.5 km will be under BMC’s jurisdiction and 4.1 km under Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation. Civic officials said that lanes for emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire brigade engines will be consucted on both sides of the road. The BMC is also exploring options to create a multi-level car parking and transport bay beneath the 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
