**L&T Denied Relief by Bombay High Court in Major Infrastructure Bids**
The Bombay High Court has ruled against Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in its challenge regarding the financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayander tunnel and elevated road projects, which are valued at over ₹14,000 crore and managed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). A detailed order from the court is expected soon.
On Tuesday, a division bench comprising Justices Kamal R. Khata and Arif S. Doctor addressed two petitions from L&T. The company claimed it was not informed about the status of its bids, while other bidders received updates. In response to L&T’s request to extend the stay on the opening of financial bids for the elevated road project, the court declined the request. However, it ordered that L&T’s electronically submitted bids for both projects be kept in a sealed cover for two weeks, allowing the company time to appeal to the Supreme Court. The court also instructed the MMRDA to announce the tender award decision in line with the instructions to bidders (ITB).
These infrastructure projects aim to enhance connectivity between Thane and Mira-Bhayandar, featuring a tunnel from Gaimukh to the Fountain Hotel junction at Shilphata and an elevated creek bridge linking Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The proposed bridge is set to be the second-largest in the region, following the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu. MMRDA had invited tenders in July 2024, and on October 8, in response to a separate petition from L&T, the deadline for bid submissions was extended by 60 days.
Representing L&T, senior counsels Janak Dwarkadas and Abhishek Manu Singhvi informed the bench that both technical and financial bids were submitted on December 30, 2024. They noted that while MMRDA opened the technical bids on January 1 and began evaluations, L&T did not receive any communication regarding the status of its bids. The company expressed concern that MMRDA scheduled the opening of financial bids for May 13 without informing L&T about the technical bid evaluation results, while other bidders were notified.
Consequently, L&T sought an urgent stay from the high court, arguing that proceeding with the financial bids without its participation would undermine the principles of a fair and transparent tender process and violate established legal norms.
**FAQ**
*What was the outcome of L&T’s petitions regarding the Thane-Ghodbunder projects?*
The Bombay High Court denied L&T’s petitions contesting the opening of financial bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder tunnel and elevated road projects, ruling that the bids should proceed while allowing L&T time to appeal.
