Toll contract of Mumbai awarded to Mumbai Entry Point Limited

The cabinet sub-committee for infrastructure headed by chief minister Ashok Chavan late Tuesday night decided to award the Rs2,100-crore toll collecting contract at the city’s five entry points to Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL) controlled by the Mhaiskar family of IRB infrastructure. A senior cabinet minister told DNA that since the matter is in the high court, the decision will be subject to the verdict.

Highly-placed sources in the government informed that Rs1,700 crore will have to be paid upfront, and the remaining amount in the next two years. The contract will be for the period of 16 years.

The cabinet had a tough time taking a final call as the matter was challenged in the high court by other bidders. Also, the finance department in its report was against awarding the contract to MEPL. Some of the ministers were also against the contract arguing that the company had not lived up to its projections in the earlier tenure. But NCP cabinet ministers prevailed over the Congress.

The five city points are Airoli, Vashi, Mulund, LBS Marg and Dahisar. The contract also includes maintenance of 27 major flyovers, five pedestrian subways, rail-overbridges and one rail-underbridge.