On Thursday, Afcons Infrastructure was declared the lowest bidder to construct a new water conveyance tunnel between Kasheli (Bhiwandi) and Mulund’s Octroi Naka in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. This significant project is part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) broader water supply expansion, aimed at enhancing the city’s infrastructure.
The project involves the construction of a 5.3-meter diameter tunnel that will be built using a face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM), with tunneling depths reaching approximately 150 meters. To provide some context, the diameter of metro tunnels built in India using TBMs typically ranges between 5.5 to 5.8 meters. TATA Consulting Engineers (TCE) has been engaged by BMC as the design consultant for the project.
This new tunnel will complement another 14.1 km water tunnel connecting the Yewai Master Balancing Reservoir to Kasheli (Bhiwandi). For that project, APCO Infratech was declared the lowest bidder back in May 2024.
BMC initially invited bids for the Kasheli to Mulund tunnel project in February 2024, with a construction deadline of six years. In May, technical bids revealed two competitors: APCO Infratech and Afcons Infrastructure. However, the tender was canceled before financial bids could be opened.
BMC reissued the tender in mid-May 2024 with an updated Rs. 1910 crore estimate, receiving bids from Afcons Infrastructure and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The technical bids were opened on May 31.
Financial Bid Values:
| Firm | Bid (Rs. Crore) |
|---|---|
| Afcons Infrastructure | 1899.36 |
| Larsen & Toubro | 1976.00 |
Afcons’ bid of Rs. 1899.36 crore came in lower than BMC’s estimate of Rs. 1910 crore, positioning them as the frontrunner for the project. Given that Afcons’ bid is well below the estimate, the contract is expected to be awarded soon without an extended financial bid evaluation process.
BMC’s Brief Scope:
Design and construction of the tunnel from Kasheli Bhiwandi to Mulund Octroi Naka
The tunnel’s construction is expected to follow this timeline:
- Groundwork to begin after the monsoon season, around September 2024.
- Full-fledged construction of TBM shafts in Q4 2024 (October – December).
- Tunneling operations likely to commence in Q1 2026 (January – March).
This development marks another significant step in Mumbai’s continued efforts to bolster its water infrastructure, ensuring reliable service to its growing population.
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