Mumbai: Why Mithi rejuvenation project is stuck again

Ambitious initiative to clean and beautify the Mithi has been hit by difficulty in relocating thousands of huts dotting its banks

Eighteen years on, the Mithi River Rejuvenation Project is nowhere close to being complete, with no bidders for the tender floated by the BMC in June 2022 for phase 3 of the project. The civic body and MMRDA have spent Rs 1,150 crore for this ambitious project, which was conceived after the 2005 floods, and work worth Rs 3,692 crore is still pending. This year, the BMC has set aside Rs 654 crore for the project, but the work may not start this year too as it requires relocation of project-affected people.

In this year’s budget, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has reported the same progress about the Mithi river project as last year. Till last year, 95 per cent of the widening and deepening work and 80 per cent of the retaining wall construction along the river that flows from Vihar lake to Mahim have been completed.

Work so far

The plan for development and pollution control of the river has been divided into four phases. The first phase included construction of interceptors, laying of sewer lines, construction of service road from Filterpada to WSP Compound in Powai and construction of 8 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) amounting to R133 crore and the same is completed.

Cleaning work is on at Mithi river near Bandra. File pic

The BMC took up construction of a retaining wall, service road, interceptor and laying of a sewer line from WSP Compound, Powai to CST Road, Kurla amounting to Rs 570 crore in phase 2. The work started last year and so far 30 per cent has been completed.

Also read: Gokhale Road bridge: BMC, WR work out differences over slow progress 

Pending work

For phase 3, the BMC plans to construct interceptors with flood gates and pumps, beautification including construction of promenades and allied works from CST Bridge to Prem Nagar outfall, Kurla including Vakola river at a cost of Rs 2,156 crore. Accordingly, the civic body in June last year floated a tender for designing, building and operating the project with a Rs 9.42 crore deposit. But the tender did not garner much interest with bidders raising several issues, the important one being relocation of project-affected people.

“Bidders raised several issues in the pre-bid meeting. The main issue is shifting of project-affected people on both sides of the river as the promenade work includes six-foot-wide roads. Such major projects have to have a separate fund for PAPs, else it won’t be feasible,” said a senior BMC official. The official added that a decision on retendering would be taken soon.  

Phase 4 of the project includes construction of a tunnel from Bapat nalla to Safed Pool nalla to Dharavi Waste Water Treatment Facility and the cost has been estimated at Rs 455 crore. No work has been done on this yet. 

‘BMC should release audit’

Anil Galgali, a civic activist, said, “The BMC and MMRDA have already spent crores on the widening of Mithi river, but most of the work is still incomplete. MMRDA has recently handed over the part of Mithi to the BMC. Now, the civic body should release an audit of its expenditure and the outcome so far.” 

The two authorities have so far spent a total of Rs 1,150 crore—Rs 504 crore by MMRDA and Rs 646 crore by BMC. As per the civic annual budget for 2023-24, work worth Rs 3,692 crore is still pending. 

June
Month in 2022 when BMC floated tender for phase 3 of the project

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