Mumbai: BMC in search for land to fuel mega projects, invites tenders

The calculation indicates that the rent for the casting yard is estimated to be around 1 to 2 per cent of the project cost. File pic

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently searching for land to establish casting yards for the proposed mega projects. The BMC has invited tenders from landowners willing to provide the necessary land. According to a BMC official, the mega projects encompass areas from Versova to Dahisar, Dahisar to Mira Road, and Mahim to Bandra on the Western Express Highway. The construction of these projects requires a casting yard for manufacturing bridge components. As per the tender conditions, if the contractor uses their land for casting, BMC will compensate them by paying the rent for the land.

The calculation indicates that the rent for the casting yard is estimated to be around 1 to 2 per cent of the project cost. Currently, three mega projects are in the pipeline with a total cost of approximately Rs 18,697 crore. If BMC cannot secure land for a casting yard for the Dahisar Versova link road, it will need to pay around Rs 256 crore as rent. For Dahisar to Mira Road, BMC has allocated Rs 224 crore to cover the rent of the casting yard for a period of three years.

Recently, BMC disbursed Rs 134 crore to the contractor for the casting yard required for the tunnel work on the Goregaon Mulund Link Road, which has a total project cost of around Rs 6,301 crore.

"We are looking for government land, and we have also invited tenders from private landowners. If we find any government land around the project site, we won't need to pay as much in rent. However, if we are unable to secure government land, we will need to compensate the private landowner. The landowner will provide a rent quote, and we cannot specify a fixed amount at this time," the official said.

Rs 18,697cr
Cost of three mega projects in the pipeline