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The estimated construction cost of a bridge project connecting Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar, has nearly doubled to Rs 3,303 crore in just three years. Activists and politicians are questioning why the entire financial burden should fall on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and are puzzled by the substantial cost escalation over a relatively short period.
Civic chief I S Chahal has taken a step towards addressing this issue by contacting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to propose a cost-sharing arrangement. Under this proposal, BMC would bear the cost of constructing the part of the bridge within its jurisdiction, while MMRDA would cover the expenses for the portion within the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation's boundaries. However, there has been no final decision on this matter as the MMRDA is awaiting a response from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
According to the BMC's recent proposal, the initial estimated cost of the Dahisar-Mira Road connector bridge was Rs 1,998 crore. However, the project's current budget has ballooned to Rs 3,303 crore. BMC officials explain that this increased cost includes factors such as maintenance, taxes, and rent for the casting yard over three years. The actual construction quoted by the contractor stands at Rs 1,957 crore, with an additional Rs 224 crore allocated for the casting yard's rent.
The origins of this debate can be traced back to a meeting held in the Urban Development Minister's chamber on December 12, 2021, where it was decided that BMC should prioritize this bridge project. Following the meeting, Civic Chief IS Chahal reached out to the Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA on December 31, 2021, proposing a cost-sharing arrangement based on jurisdiction. MMRDA responded on February 11, 2022, indicating that the in-principal approval for cost-sharing in Mira Bhayandar was a policy matter.
Subsequently, the MMRDA Engineer-in-Chief presented a proposal to the Chief Minister's Office on December 29, 2022, seeking a decision on sharing the project's cost within Mira Bhayandar's limits. As of now, the MMRDA is awaiting a response from the CMO, and no final decision has been reached.
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