BMC moves to tighten planning rules as project costs spiral in Mumbai

Ongoing work on the Sion Bridge project, which has also come under scrutiny over rising costs. File pics/Atul Kamble

Facing criticism over soaring project costs and allegations of fiscal indiscipline, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning stricter systems to prevent delays and cost escalations in infrastructure projects.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed departments to complete pre-tender planning in advance, improve inter-department coordination and arrive at more accurate project estimates during the initial planning stage itself.

The move comes after several major civic projects witnessed sharp cost increases, with some estimates rising by nearly 50 per cent.

Pic/Ashish Raje

Sion Bridge project

The standing committee also flagged cost escalation concerns in the construction of the Sion Bridge, though the exact revised figures were not disclosed.

The proposed site of the Gargai dam project, in Palghar district. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Big-ticket projects under scrutiny

Gargai Dam project
. Original project cost: Around Rs 3000 crore
. Latest escalation: Additional Rs 270 crore approved
. Benefit: Will add 440 MLD of water supply to Mumbai once completed
In March, the BMC standing committee had initially referred the proposal back after raising concerns over the revised cost. The proposal was later cleared in a subsequent meeting.
'million litres per day (MLD)

In numbers

Rs 14,000 crore - GMLR project cost
Rs 3000 crore - Gargai dam project cost
Rs 270 crore - Recent escalation in the Gargai proposal
Rs 2400 crore - Revised cost of 1.3 km GMLR flyover

Ongoing construction work on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project in Mulund. File pics/Satej Shinde

Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR)

. Original estimated cost: Around Rs 14,000 crore
. Key issue: Multiple components witnessing cost escalation
. Impact: Travel time between eastern and western suburbs expected to reduce from around 60 minutes to 20 minutes

Major escalation flagged

. Cost of a 1.3 km flyover on the Eastern Express Highway, part of the GMLR project, has nearly doubled to Rs 2400 crore

What the administration plans to do

According to Bhide, departments have now been instructed to begin project planning and pre-tender work much earlier to avoid delays that eventually push up costs.

Measures proposed

. Complete pre-tendering homework in advance
. Improve coordination between departments for approvals and permissions
. Simultaneously plan projects and initiate tendering to save time
. Improve estimation methods during the planning stage
. Reduce delays caused by internal approvals and administrative bottlenecks