Mumbai News: BMC Invites Fresh Bids For ₹3,520 Crore Desalination Plant In Manori After 2 Failed Attempts

Mumbai: After two unsuccessful attempts to attract sufficient bids, the BMC on Wednesday issued fresh tender for the third time for its ambitious desalination plant on 12-hectare plot in Manori village in the Western suburbs.

In its first phase, the proposed plant aims to supply 200 million litres per day (MLD) of potable water, with provisions to scale up capacity to 400 MLD in the future. The project, estimated to cost Rs 3,520 crore, is expected to be completed and operational within four years.

Despite multiple bidding deadline extensions since December 2023, the project attracted only one bid by the final deadline on August 29, 2024. Consequently, the civic body scrapped the tender process and shifted focus to the Gargai Dam project.

Meanwhile, BMC revised tender conditions through the contractor to make future bids more viable and attractive. Fresh bids were invited on Wednesday, with a submission deadline of June 26.

"The Gargai Dam will take several years to complete, while Mumbai’s population is expected to near two crore by 2041, raising daily water demand to 6,426 ML. To meet this urgent need, we have revised tender terms to attract more bidders and remain hopeful for positive responses,” said a senior civic official. The selected contractor will also be responsible for operating and maintaining the plant for 20 years.

The idea of a desalination plant for Mumbai was first proposed in 2007. However, it could gain momentum in 2020 with approval from the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government. In February 2021, BMC appointed an Israeli company to develop a detailed proposal, followed by reviewing the designs in January 2022.

After clearances from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and completion of the design phase, a tender for constructing the plant was floated on December 4, 2023. The BMC has allocated Rs 100 crore as initial funding for the project in its 2025-26 budget.