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MUMBAI: The CAG audit revealed there was an increase in the estimated cost by over Rs 1,800 crore for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road due to an inordinate delay by the BMC in obtaining forest clearance for the 4.7-km-long twin tunnel to be constructed underneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
Work on the twin tunnel, which was part of the project for construction of two flyovers and elevated rotary along the Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) could not be started as the requisite final forest clearance had not been received even five years after the proposal was submitted due to non-compliance of the conditions for the award of forest clearance by BMC.
Meanwhile, the cost of construction of tunnel works estimated at Rs 4,500 crore in January 2019, had increased to Rs 6,322 crore as of August 2022. The CAG also observed that the BMC had prequalified a contractor for the work “without verifying his experience of undertaking similar work”. It even noted that technical approval was not obtained from either the DMC (infrastructure) or Director (ES&P), who were the only competent authorities for granting the same. The audit observed non-adherence to the due process for obtaining technical sanction for the works, as the technical approval was not obtained from either the DMC (infrastructure) or Director (ES&P), who were the only competent authorities for granting the same.
The BMC prequalified three bidders in a work and subsequently made major modifications in the original scope of work leading to increase in the cost of work by 58.25 crore. The BMC’s chief engineer (bridges), in their response, accepted the audit observation and stated that necessary action, which includes issuing notice, imposing liquidated damages etc. would be initiated.
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