BMC Extends Mumbadevi Temple Precinct Beautification Tender to September 30

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has extended the deadline for its Rs 58-crore tender for the beautification of the Mumbadevi temple precinct until September 30, following a legal dispute before the Bombay High Court over the project site.

The extension comes after infrastructure company SMS Limited, the contractor selected for a Rs 122-crore multi-storey robotic parking project at Mumbadevi, moved the Bombay High Court seeking Rs 55 crore in damages. The company filed the plea after work on the parking project was halted under a stay in July 2024.

The BMC's tender for the precinct beautification was originally scheduled to close on August 17. During the last hearing, the High Court permitted SMS Limited to amend its petition and challenge the new beautification tender if it turns out to encompass the same parking project site. The court instructed both the BMC and the Maharashtra state government to submit their responses and scheduled the matter for hearing on August 18.

During a previous hearing, the High Court observed that when government officials illegally cancel public projects and damages are subsequently awarded, the officials responsible should pay the costs from their own salaries rather than burdening taxpayers. The observation was made while hearing SMS Limited's challenge against the cancellation of the robotic parking facility near the Mumbadevi shrine.

Civic officials noted that the BMC had previously reduced the original budget for the project from Rs 220 crore to Rs 28 crore. However, officials highlighted that the revised revamp plan impacts the plot that was originally earmarked to accommodate the robotic parking tower.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Lavangare-Verma stated that she will gather information regarding the ongoing court case and look into the matter.