Mumbai : The government has had to re-invite tenders for the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial project in the Arabian Sea after the lowest bidder selected to design the memorial backed out. Now, the process will be finalised in the first week of September.
Canada-based NORR Group, in a joint venture with Indian firm Pentacle Infrastructure, was the lowest bidder for the project and was selected for it. The NORR Group had designed the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. According to a senior government official, the NORR Group was informed by their Indian partner that they would be responsible only for the design, whereas the government wanted the company to be responsible for the entire project.
The government is going to erect a 190-metre-high statue of Shivaji in the Arabian Sea, five km from Marine Drive. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 2,000 crore. However, the state has made a budgetary provision.
“After the government came to know that the NORR firm is only there for the design and not for construction, we were not happy with the company and conveyed the same,” said principal secretary, general administration, Dr P S Meena.
Sources said the firm was asking for a larger amount as the project, according to it, was not feasible in the stipulated amount.
