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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received three bids for the construction of two underground tunnels, which are part of the Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion by creating a 12.2 km-long road connecting Goregaon and Mulund through arterial roads, tunnels, and bridges. The tender for the underground tunnels was floated in October 2022. However, eligible contractors did not submit any bids until June 30. The deadline for submitting bids was postponed four times. According to civic officials, NCC, Larsen and Toubro, and Afcons Infrastructure are the three firms that have submitted their final bids. The estimated cost of the tunnels is Rs 63 billion, while the overall project cost is above Rs 85.5 billion. P Velrasu, the Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), stated that the final bidder would be selected by the end of July. We are currently evaluating the bids submitted by these three firms, and the firm awarded the work order will be finalized by the end of this month, Velrasu said. He also mentioned that the bidding deadline had been extended based on requests from the bidding firms. The officials clarified that the extension was to encourage competition among the bidders and secure the best price for the project. We received numerous requests from potential bidders to extend the deadline. Additionally, requirements related to the forest department's permission and environmental clearances necessitated certain adjustments to the plan, which led to the delay, Velrasu explained. The new environmental clearances now require the inclusion of a pipeline for water flow beneath the tunnel. This additional requirement resulted in further delays as it was not initially anticipated. The tunnels, measuring 4.7 km in length and with a diameter of 13 metres, will pass beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The depth of the tunnels will vary between 20 and 160 metres, depending on the topography. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will be used for their construction, and they will be equipped with advanced ventilation, lighting systems, and electric surveillance. The GMLR project is divided into four phases. Currently, the first and second phases are underway, involving the construction of flyovers, traffic interchanges, road widening, and the creation of traffic interchanges. The construction of the twin tunnels is part of the third phase, and officials anticipate that work may commence before the end of this year. Also read: TMC plans to construct more internal roads with TTD support3 Bidders for Mumbai’s Goregaon � Mulund Link Road Tunnel Project