The Times of India - Mumbai 19.08.2009
BMC's parking lot plan in south Mumbai held back
MUMBAI: Demanding an investigation into the BMC's plans to construct seven underground multi-level parking lots in south Mumbai, the civic standing committee on Tuesday held back the Rs 444-crore plan on Tuesday.
Members of the committee, while unanimously agreeing that these facilities- two at Crawford Market, two at Hutatma Chowk and the rest near Eros Cinema, Regal Cinema and Jehangir Art Gallery-will double the existing parking capacity to 1,400 from 700 now, raised doubts over the civic tendering process. They also demanded a presentation on all the seven facilities before proceeding further on the issue.
Corporator Vinod Shekhar accused the BMC of bending guidelines to favour a certain section of contractors.
On Monday, officials had received an anonymous letter alleging that a consortium represented by the relative of a top Sena leader was being favoured during the tender exercise. "Offering a firm Rs 444 crore to develop and maintain these lots-along with the right to pocket revenue from them for 30 years-somehow does not make sense," said Shekhar.
The BMC had chosen a consortium of Venue Infrastructure Ltd and German Wohr Parking Systems for the project. While the company will get to pocket revenue for 30 years, the BMC explained that it was not feasible for it to run the parking lots on its own. Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar claimed the tendering process was fair and the civic body will look into all allegations.
Members of the committee, while unanimously agreeing that these facilities- two at Crawford Market, two at Hutatma Chowk and the rest near Eros Cinema, Regal Cinema and Jehangir Art Gallery-will double the existing parking capacity to 1,400 from 700 now, raised doubts over the civic tendering process. They also demanded a presentation on all the seven facilities before proceeding further on the issue.
Corporator Vinod Shekhar accused the BMC of bending guidelines to favour a certain section of contractors.
On Monday, officials had received an anonymous letter alleging that a consortium represented by the relative of a top Sena leader was being favoured during the tender exercise. "Offering a firm Rs 444 crore to develop and maintain these lots-along with the right to pocket revenue from them for 30 years-somehow does not make sense," said Shekhar.
The BMC had chosen a consortium of Venue Infrastructure Ltd and German Wohr Parking Systems for the project. While the company will get to pocket revenue for 30 years, the BMC explained that it was not feasible for it to run the parking lots on its own. Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar claimed the tendering process was fair and the civic body will look into all allegations.
