Govt to build trans-harbour link alone

Frustrated over delays due to squabbling by Ambani brothers, Maharashtra government has decided to construct the 22-km-long Rs 6,000 crore Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project on its own. “One can’t deny that the project, linking Sewri in Mumbai and Nhava-sheva across the creek in Navi Mumbai, was delayed due to the warring brothers”, Minister for public works Anil Deshmukh said, justifying the government’s decision to undertake the project on its own. “Even if we had gone for rebidding, the same situation would have arisen”, he said.

There is a suggestion to have an eight-lane link instead of the six-lane one. In that case, cost would go up to Rs 7,700 rpt 7,700 crore, he said.

The decision was taken to avoid further delay especially in the wake of the project’s importance in the future development of Mumbai, the minister said.