Rs 50 lakh ad blitzkrieg for trans-harbour link

The nodal agency, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the much-delayed Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) makes the right noises.

The agency has expedited work by launching an ad blitzkrieg in national and international dailies and has also written to consulates of nearly 40 countries such as the United States, Canada and China to ensure that international bidders are aware of the project, which it hopes will translate into bids later.

“We have also written to over 40 consulates to disseminate information among companies in their own countries,” a senior MMRDA official said.

The Rs8,800 crore project got some impetus after the agency planned to call for Request for Qualification (RFQ) from interested parties.

The RFQ will help the agency in screening and shortlisting companies that will be eligible for building the sea link.

“We are doing our best to ensure that the project generates a global buzz so that we get good response to our project,” the official added.

The MMRDA has written to consulates of the US, China, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Malaysia and even war-torn Afghanistan to attract bids.

The MTHL, which will link Sewri in the island city with Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai, has been stalled thrice in the last five years.

In June 2008, Reliance Infrastructure was selected to build the project, but it decided to back out following delays.

For more than three years, the project had been a contentious issue in the government, which was not able to decide which agency should build the project. In April this year, the chief minister decided that the project would be built by the MMRDA.

Now, the agency plans to complete construction in six years after finalising the pre-qualified bidders by the first week of March 2012.