City’s trans-harbour link delayed by two months
Construction work of the much-awaited Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) that was expected to begin by October 2017 is now delayed by two months due to a delay in the bidding process.
This is not the first time the project has been delayed. Earlier, it faced several hurdles in the form of environmental clearances.
Speaking with the Free Press Journal, UPS Madan, MMRDA chief, said, “We have invited bidders and the entire process takes time. The project is expected to start by December this year as the post bidding process will take another month.”
The bidding process had a deadline of April but the last date of submission was extended to June 5. A senior MMRDA official told Free Press that it will take another month after the submission of bids to evaluate and award the contracts to the winning bidders.
The 22-km bridge will start from Sewri and will end at Nhava-Sheva. Decongesting heavy traffic of the city, it will provide a gateway to Navi Mumbai International Airport and Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
After completion of the project, it will be the longest sea bridge in the country with a length of 22-km the project is estimated to cost around Rs 17,000 crore. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to fund 85 percent of the project as a loan that will be paid in the next 30 years.
The remaining funds will be disbursed in the second phase of the project by MMRDA, in about two years’ time after construction begins.
The 22-km bridge will start from Sewri and will end at Nhava-Sheva. Decongesting heavy traffic of the city, it will provide a gateway to Navi Mumbai International Airport and MumbaiPune Expressway
Drug peddler held with meow meow
The Kandivali unit of Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) has arrested a 25-year-old drug peddler and seized 370 gm Meow Meow or Mephedrone worth Rs. 7.40 lakh from his possession.
The ANC officials have also recovered Rs 7.92 lakh cash from the possession of drug peddler Suraj Banvarilal Gupta, who is the resident of Kalusing Chawl, Saibaba road of Mumbai’s Khar (East).
Gupta has been arrested from Goregaon check naka, opposite to Arey gym activity centre in Goregaon (east) where he has come to peddle the drug.
He has been booked under various sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigations are underway.