The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), also known as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), in India, is facing delays in securing bids for its ambitious desalination project, reports The Free Press Journal.
The BMC has extended the tender submission deadline for the fifth time. Originally valued at Rs 3,520 crore, the project aims to establish a desalination plant in Manori capable of producing 200 million litres of potable water daily, with potential expansion to 400 million litres.
The project is structured as a build-operate-transfer initiative, with BMC keen on soliciting global interest.
Initially announced on December 4, 2023, the tender deadline has been repeatedly pushed back, with successive extensions to January 4, January 29, February 17, and most recently, March 11. Now, BMC has rescheduled the final submission date to April 12, in pursuit of a broader pool of potential bidders. Despite efforts to attract interest, only one bid has been received thus far, prompting further extension and re-invitation of tenders.
The project will be developed in four years, according to the BMC and the winning bidder will operate the plant for 20 years.
The desalination plant holds significance for BMC's efforts to alleviate the city's dependence on its seven lakes for potable water, particularly during the monsoon season when anxiety over water supply looms large.
