MMRDA in Catch-22 situation: RInfra lowest bidder for ‘Smart BKC’ project

Officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are in a Catch-22 situation after Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has emerged as the lowest bidder in its flagship ‘Smart BKC’ project.

The bids for the Rs 60-crore project were opened last Friday, and to the surprise of the Authorities, RInfra had quoted the lowest amount. MMRDA, which is locked in bitter court battles with RInfra over Metro fares, will be forced to award the project. The other consortia vying for the project was led by Larsen & Toubro.

A senior MMRDA official on condition of anonymity said, “We are still evaluating the bids. But technicality or the financial angle isn’t the concern here. Our dilemma is awarding the project to RInfra as we are fighting against them in the High Court and the Supreme Court over Metro fares, the arbitration case over the total project cost of Metro-1 etc, and now we would have to award them another project.”

‘Smart BKC’ aims to convert the plush business of Bandra-Kurla Complex into India’s first ‘mini’ smart city.

Another senior official said, “There is no question of scrapping the bids. The court issue or the arbitration is due to differences between RInfra and MMRDA, it is not that RInfra has defaulted and cannot be awarded any projects — if they qualify both technically and financially, we have to award it to them.”

The project offers features such as smart parking, free hi-speed internet (Wi-Fi), solar-powered streetlights with motion sensors, advanced CCTV networks, building monitoring system and a mobile app that will enable citizens to use all the facilities for the business district.

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