Mumbai Smart Meter Row: Citizens Report Sudden Bill Surges After New Meter Installations
Date: 9.9.25
294 / 285-204 / CMO, MC-BMC, MMRDA / show tender and status of demolition of building / Hancock – Elphinstone bridge folder and file
To
Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA : mc@mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in
Chief Engineer (Bridges), MMRDA : ce.bridges@mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in
Chief Controller of Tenders, MMRDA : ccto@mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in
CC:
Chief Secretary, Maharashtra : cs@maharashtra.gov.in
Chief Secretary (Home), Maharashtra : cs.home@maharashtra.gov.in
Commissioner of Police, Mumbai : cp.mumbai@mahapolice.gov.in
Subject: Detailed information regarding
- cost escalation,
- penalty clauses, for contractors and officers of MMRDA
- tender process of Elphinstone Bridge project
- life span and substandard work
Respected Sir,
I, Kamlakar Shenoy, a senior citizen, am constrained to write this letter in larger public interest regarding the Elphinstone Bridge project. The recent report in Loksatta dated 09.09.2025 has raised serious concerns regarding escalation of cost and contractual provisions. In this regard, I seek the following specific information:
- Initial and Present Cost
1.1 What was the sanctioned initial project cost?
1.2 What is the present revised cost?
1.3 Kindly provide details of percentage escalation, year-wise along with the conditions mentioned therein, with specific reference to tender/contract clauses.
- Escalation Clause
2.1 Copy of the relevant escalation clause in the tender/contract documents.
2.2 relevant clause: Basis on which escalation is being claimed/approved.
2.3 detail of escalation is permissible when preparatory works such as road widening and obstruction clearance are not completed.
2.4 Information should be specific with proper index, clause reference, and page number. Officers cannot merely provide bunches of files and expect applicants to search.
- Penalty and Prosecution Clause
3.1 Copy of penalty provisions applicable for delay in execution to contractors as well as MMRDA commissioner and his subordinate officers.
3.2 details of penalties have been levied so far, if not, reasons thereof.
3.3 Specific penalty clause for delay in 100% completion of bridge, and not partial completion as in Hancock Bridge which even after 10 years stands only 30% complete.
3.4 Prosecution clause, against Commissioner, Chief Engineer, and other responsible officers in case of substandard work or delays to complete and clear all obstructions and give clear open space to the contractor.
3.5 Penalty clause to be specified for Commissioner and Chief Engineer in case of:
3.5.1 Failure to hand over all required spaces and land necessary for commencement of construction.
3.5.2 Failure to obtain all mandatory NOCs and permissions from every authority and Railways prior to demolition of Elphinstone Bridge, thereby causing avoidable delay and financial burden on the public exchequer.
- Defect Liability and Life Span Cost
4.1 Copy of the defect liability clause along with number of years.
4.2 Intended design life span of the bridge.
4.3 Estimated maintenance/life cycle cost and responsibility of contractor during defect liability period along with penalty and criminal prosecution.
- Conditions for Escalation
5.1 What specific conditions must be fulfilled before escalation can be granted to the contractor?
5.2 Whether escalation is permissible without completion of basic pre-preparedness work and clearance of obstructions.
5.3. details of escalation clause in operation for failure of MMRDA commissioner and chief engineer failure to complete their jobs
6. Material Relied Upon
6.1 Copies of all documents, approvals, and committee notes relied upon to make the statement regarding escalation clause in Loksatta newspaper dt. 9.9.25.
6.2 copy of written explanation given as per GR of state of Maharashtra state dt. 22.3.2016 and 28.3.25 for the news dt. 9.9.25 in Free Press Journal paper
- Tender Process
7.1 Copy of the tender documents called for the bridge.
7.2 Copies of all mandatory clearances and NOCs obtained from Fire Brigade, Traffic Police, Railways, underground utilities, Regulatory authorities and others and every other concerned authority prior to floating of tender.
7.3 Clarification whether the tender was floated before or after completion of road widening and obstruction clearance.
7.4 section and provision of law relied to call for tenders without clearing encroachments?
7.5 Time required for demolition of Elphinstone Bridge. If demolition requires more than one week, kindly state the reasons when Hancock Bridge was demolished within 48 hours after a PIL was filed.
7.5.1 Time required for removing official buildings which are obstructions to widening of road and reconstruction of the full bridge.
7.5.2 Present status of approach road and other facilities required for completion.
7.5.3 Section and provision of law relied upon to demolish the bridge in February, April, and September 2025 without prior removal of obstructions of legal buildings and rehabilitation of Project Affected Persons (PAP).
7.6 What is the present status/progress of demolition of existing 19 + 2 legal buildings (which are obstructing road widening and reconstruction of the bridge) and rehabilitation of the affected occupants?
7.6.1 specific time required to complete demolition and rehabilitation of PAP?
7.6.2 Time required for replacement/relocation of underground utilities and other related preparatory works.
- Accountability for Delay and Substandard Work
8.1 Kindly specify provisions fixing financial liability of Commissioner, Chief Engineer, and other responsible officers for escalation in cost due to:
8.1.1 Delays in rehabilitation of PAPs and clearance of obstructions.
8.1.2 Failure to plan for timely shifting of underground utilities and allied services.
8.1.3 Lack of vision and planning resulting in repeated demolition attempts without completion of preparatory work.
8.2 Responsibility and penalty to be fixed for substandard work, lapses in supervision, or negligence causing reduction in service life of the bridge.
8.3 Whether any provisions exist for recovery of cost escalation directly from salaries/pensions of responsible officers, instead of burdening the public exchequer.
In view of the serious public money implications, it is necessary that transparency and accountability be maintained. I therefore request you to provide the above information in a time-bound manner with certified copies of documents, properly indexed with page numbers.
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Sincerely,
Kamlakar Shenoy
Senior Citizen