"C-Link" gets an extension.......; the public bears the cost burden........? Original deadline 2024; now directly 2028....!

Mumbai, dated 29 (Anant Nalawe) – The Versova‑Bandra sea link project, being built to speed up Mumbai’s traffic, has been granted a total extension of 1,421 days; however, where is the account of whether a penalty has been imposed for the contractor’s delay...? This direct question was raised by Right to Information activist Anil Galgali.

The ambitious project, which began on 24 June 2019, originally had a completion date of 21 June 2024. After granting extensions in four stages, that date has now moved directly to 17 May 2028. Hence the political and administrative question arises: is the extension a concession to the project or to the contractor…?

According to information obtained from MSRDC under RTI, the first extension of 250 days was granted because land for the casting yard was not available. Subsequently, an additional 180 days were added to account for disruptions caused by COVID‑19. Further, a total of 483 days was approved due to restructuring within the EPC contractor’s joint venture, and another 508 days was sanctioned on the basis of changes in the scope of work and additional tasks. Thus, the sum of the four extensions amounts to 1,421 days…!

‘Deadline’ pushed four years ahead