The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to furnish reasons for rejecting a Reliance Infrastructure bid to upgrade toll plazas at five entry points in Mumbai.
An Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company, Reliance Infrastructure had moved the court last week, fearing arbitrary disqualification in its bid for collection of toll at Mulund, Vashi, LBS Road, Airoli and Dahisar in Mumbai, and maintenance of 27 flyovers and five pedestrian subways.
Reliance Infrastructure has claimed MSRDC did not open the financial bids till Tuesday, ??without any logical justification??. Instead it has alllegedly selected MEP, a subsidiary of Maharashtra-based construction company IRB, as the preferred bidder for the project.
The Bombay High Court has brought all further decisions taken by MSRDC in the matter under its purview. The matter will next be heard on August 26.
??We have received a reply from MSRDC and are in the process of scrutinising it. Accordingly, we will revise the petition and approach the court again,?? said an official close to the development.
The project, with Rs 2,100 crore as bid amount and a concession period of 18 years, was floated by MSRDC over a month back. Seven infrastructure firms lined up for the project. However, bids of construction majors Reliance Infrastructure, GVK, Sadbhav PBA and Sangam India were disqualified while MEP, IL&FS and Ashoka Buildcon were approved.