MMRDA invites tenders for geotechnical survey

“The survey will take about a month and we should have the data by March,” an MMRDA official said. The agency has intentionally separated the geotechnical investigation from the contract for the construction,operation and maintenance of the MTHL,which is to be built at an approximate cost of Rs 8,800 crore.

“It will help us with any uncertain elements in the construction. Besides,it will help us know the rock profile and cost of the project better,” the official said,adding completion of the geotechnical survey well ahead of time will speed up the project.

The MMRDA had conducted a geotechnical survey of the alignment of the MTHL many years ago. “We know the rock profile at every two kilometres,but are looking to update it as we want to remove all uncertainties,” the official said.

It also plans to conduct a geotechnical survey for a Worli-Sewri connector for the MTHL. The cost of conducting such a survey from Worli to Nhava would be approximately Rs 2 crore,the MMRDA official said. The MMRDA has also invited bids from consultants for studying and preparing a project report on a Worli-Sewri connector and a four-lane highway on the Nhava end to connect the road to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

The 22-kilometre MTHL,touted as the longest sea link to be constructed in the country,has gone through two failed rounds of tendering.

However,this time around,the request for qualification has evoked a huge response from domestic and international companies alike,with more than 275 qualification bids having been downloaded till now.