BMC pipeline project cost spiralled by Rs 300 crore

MUMBAI: A BMC water pipeline project was awarded last year for about Rs 300 crore more than what was initially estimated by its own consultant.

The consultant, Mott MacDonald, had pegged the project cost at Rs 825 crore in 2008. But the 41.35-km pipeline project in Thane district was finally approved in August 2009 by the civic standing committee and awarded to three firms for Rs 1,133 crore.

TOI has learnt that the BMC had received a bid from an engineering giant for Rs 909 crore. "However, the bid was disqualified on the ground that this company had an MoU with a pipe-fabricating agency, which did not meet the BMC's tender requirement," an official said.

The tender condition stipulated that the pipe fabricator must have manufactured 20,000 metric tonnes of pipes of 2,700-mm diameter and above in any one year over the last five years. "The Rs 909-crore bid was not opened because the fabricator had produced 23,000 metric tonnes of pipe of 2,350-mm diameter in a year," the official said.