10 Bidders for Versova Virar Sealink’s Geotechnical Work in Mumbai
10 surveying firms have submitted bids for 43 km Versova – Virar Sealink project (VVSLP)’s detailed geotechnical investigation work after Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids last week.
This 43 km 8 lane proposed elevated road along Mumbai’s western coast is estimated to cost Rs. 63,426 crore. Along with 6 lane connecting roads leading to the suburbs, the entire project will be 79.11 km long and function as a northern extension of the under construction 17 km Versova Bandra Sealink (VBSL) project.
To facilitate the start of civil construction works, MMRDA in April 2023 invited tenders for geotechnical investigation through 6 packages with a 120 completion deadline. Boreholes will be drilled in the regions of Versova, Charkop, Uttan, Vasai, Virar and Arnala.
Bidders
- Coastal Marine Construction and Engineering Ltd. – P4, P5
- Fugro Geotech India Pvt. Ltd. – P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
- Ideal Geoservices Pvt. Ltd. – P4 only
- Idhitri Geoservices Pvt. Ltd. – P6 only
- Indian Geotechnical Services – P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
- Jay Gajanan Geotechnics – P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
- Paresh constructions and foundations Pvt. Ltd – P1, P4
- Renuka Consultants – P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
- SKW Soil and Survey Co – P1, P2, P5, P6
- S & R Geotechniques Pvt. Ltd. – P1, P3
Geotechnical Packages & Scope:
- Versova Marine Package 1 (Ch 00+000 to 9+600)
- Charkop Marine Package 2 (Ch 9+600 to 14+800)
- Uttan Marine Package 3 (Ch 14+800 to 21+200)
- Vasai Marine Package 4 (Ch 21+200 to 30+600)
- Virar Marine Package 5 (Ch 30+600 to 40+400)
- Arnala Marine Package 6 (Ch 40+400 to 42+750 & 5+400)
The bids have now been sent for technical evaluation which can take a couple weeks to complete. When that is done, the financial bids of the technically qualified bidders will be opened to reveal who’s the lowest bidder and most likely contractor for each package.
These are low-value contracts, so I’ll update this post when financial bids are opened with the winners’ names. The results from these 6 geotechnical contract’s investigation and other local survey/field-work will go into preparing civil construction tender documents.
Admittedly, this isn’t a project I’m a major proponent of as additional roadways aren’t ever a solution (hello induced demand) and the money can better be used towards new mass transit lines.
If an expressway really has to be built, as I’ve shared in the past – it can be built on land by burying the Indian Railways’ lines into a shallow cut and cover tunnel similar to what New York City did with its railroad on Park Avenue in the 1800s. The magnitude, rail traffic and route lengths are of course vastly different, but I’d at least like to see a feasibility study to be conducted.
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– TMRG
Not sure I like this project. Wish they had spent this money in building some intelligent metro systems or a biking lane or shared mobility. A road like this isn’t even useful for buses because they can’t have intermediate stops.
All of this while also irreversibly ruining all of Mumbai’s sea view. Imagine looking at a sunset blocked by a road.
You’re expecting intelligence from our planners. That’s too much to ask.
That’s a very generous answer. How much of engineering and product development work have you done? Planners have a task to meet the technical requirements which includes dearth of geotechnical feasibilities, alignment, meeting clearances, environment requirements, and think about the future as to usage, increase in number of vehicles, impacts, as well as engineering assessment around structures, mechanics, future expansion? The map above may just be an example not necessarily the exact alignment. The bids are not even out yet and no bidder has been selected. This is the way to go for North South Seamless travel in Mumbai. Either that or you task up to clean up the slums in Mumbai which the politicians are failing to do that.
Its very much needed for virar residents as they all are traveling to south Mumbai with lots of pain and risks
New project by Mhada in virar and entire Global city of Rustamjee project are not fully occupied
If Its Get occupied 60% of its total capacity
Then just think about the upcoming situation for virar travelers
All kinds of metros and other means of transportation are already in pipeline. People still like to use road transportation. Looking the population rise the local trains and metros too will become overwhelmed.
63000 crores for a highway????
Who allowed that? This is such a big waste of money. Why not spend all that money on the local, add more tracks, improve stations, new trains and what not and it will facilitate commuting of so many more people than this ever could.
Go and try to add new tracks. Removing already erected buildings, compensating and relocating them will cost almost similar.
That is what we are saying. It will cost similar but provide much much more capacity. Is it that difficult to understand?
Why not. The Gen elections are coming. Netas and govt need money. They hv to make money in 5years. Planners are a bunch of idiots who have no vision for next 50 years. They are all short sighted and have to make their money. The guys have brain in their back
Why not. The Gen elections are coming. Netas and govt need money. They hv to make money in 5years. Planners are a bunch of idiots who have no vision for next 50 years. They are all short sighted and have to make their money.
I agree to your point. It is nothing but increasing polution and destroying seaside beauty which we see today. It will have bad impact on weather in near future too.
Where is the land for more tracks in mumbai? Even the existing tracks are surrounded by slums. Borivali-Virar western railway tracks have already been doubled. Metro also linking Dahisar to Virar is already approved. It is not either or. Both things are needed to ensure connectivity for people living in Virar.
For the people here are commenting on adding about poor decision and instead asking to add metro and local trains. You seem to be from different horizon folks, there’s already local running every 2-3 minutes. Metro has also been proposed apart from road project. NH too provides connectivity however, it not easily accessible and thus road link is a must
The question here is how many people can use it vs how much money is spent.
Certainly more people will be able to use a metro built with 63k crore than use this bridge. You say locals run every 2-3 min but you know that is still not sufficient.
The metro is only proposed, instead of spending the money on this if we spend that money on that metro then more number of people will benefit. It just does not make sence to put so much money into a bridge that provides less capacity.
And i have not even started on the environmental impact of one vs the other
Yes definitely a much needed infra projects without which you can’t progress. Although there are various links but by the time this project starts functioning, we will say this is not enough. The way population is growing and growing of industrial complexes, an excellent infrastructure is must
It would have been much more beautiful if like the coastal road in South mumbai, the same alignment would have been made all along the coast till virar. How come there are coast-hugging beautiful highways in foreign countries?
Bridge between naigaon and bhayander is pending since ages (which is also shown in the map) and should be high priority before this
Have you travelled in local trains from Virar to Andheri, Bandra etc. Yiu will understand the need and necessity of people commuting everyday with risking thier life.
Why then we constructed highways from Subrubs to Navi Mumbai, when there was already a harbour train facility.
This is not about budget but about alternative facility for populated western suburb population.
Keep adding copy paste patches…1per decade evenwhen you have a expressway and railway just a km away through cities. Insteed have 100m greeny+sandy+rocky beach belt ||| , within land without sea enchrochment.
Please don’t design as per natural needs… asthetics , STD not in architectural dictionary.