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