More than 59 proposals were placed before the committee for approval, including a plan to construct a 1.3 km flyover connecting the Eastern Express Highway with Airoli.
In the first general meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s standing committee, opposition members on Friday questioned cost escalations in two major civic infrastructure projects, while the panel also stalled a proposal to build a town hall/gymkhana in south Mumbai citing planning concerns.
More than 59 proposals were placed before the committee for approval, including a plan to construct a 1.3 km flyover connecting the Eastern Express Highway with Airoli as part of the ₹14,000 crore Goregaon Mulund Link Road project.
The contract for the flyover has been awarded at ₹1,389 crore, about 6.8 per cent higher than the estimated cost. However, BMC records show the overall project cost has risen to ₹2,495 crore, nearly double the original estimate.
The tender document states that the bridge will be constructed within 36 months excluding the monsoon period.
Raising the issue during the meeting, Congress leader Ashraf Azmi said the timeline mentioned in the tender contradicts Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s earlier announcement that the Goregaon Mulund Link Road would be completed by 2028.
“The tender clearly shows that the project will not be completed before 2028-29. The administration must explain the reason for the cost escalation,” Azmi said, adding that there was no clarity on how the project cost had increased by nearly ₹800 crore.
Despite objections, the committee cleared the proposal. Standing committee chairperson Prabhakar Shinde said the project was necessary to improve east-west connectivity in the city.
Opposition members also questioned the cost escalation in the reconstruction of the Sion bridge, where the project cost has increased by about 20 per cent.
The tender for the bridge reconstruction was awarded at ₹21.44 crore, but the revised cost now stands at ₹25.86 crore. The committee cleared the proposal, with Shinde stating that the new bridge is expected to be reopened for the public by August 15.
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Meanwhile, the committee stalled the BMC administration’s proposal to construct a town hall/gymkhana in the Fort area after members across party lines raised concerns over planning priorities.
Several members argued that instead of creating recreational facilities accessible to only a limited section of citizens, the civic body should use the available space to strengthen parking infrastructure in south Mumbai, where parking shortages remain a major issue.
Following the objections, Shinde directed the administration to submit a detailed execution plan for the project before it is reconsidered by the committee.
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
