Three firms shortlisted for sea link toll collection

September 12, 2013

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MANASI PHADKE : Mumbai,

Though the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) diluted eligibility norms for the contract for toll collection and maintenance of the Bandra-Worli sea link, only three of the five companies that submitted proposals have qualified.

The MSRDC will now invite price bids from the three shortlisted firms, which includes the incumbent toll collection company Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL). MEPL is owned by Jayant Mhaiskar, brother of Virendra Mhaiskar, the promoter of IRB Infrastructure, and has been collecting toll on the sea link since it was opened to traffic in 2009.

“We will float request for proposals by next week and expect to have the responses in by the end of this month. We think the competition would be good this time. Representatives of the three companies have met us and it seems that all are keen on submitting their bids,” said a senior MSRDC official.

SMS Infrastructure Limited, Konark Infrastructure, IRB Infrastructure, MEPL and Reliance ADAG had in June submitted proposals after the agency relaxed the eligibility criteria.

“The companies that did not qualify had submitted their bids in a consortium with another company. We had said that the bids should be by individual entities. Two companies failed to match the criteria for the minimum turnover on their own,” the official said.When the MSRDC floated tenders for the sea link toll and maintenance contract as per the original norms, only two firms — Konark Infrastructure and MEPL — had submitted bids. Ultimately, only MEPL could qualify and MSRDC had to call for bids again.

Source-http://www.indianexpress.com