Even a month after the MMRDA invited tenders for initial work on the proposed memorial at Indu Mills, not a single bidder has expressed interest
The Dalit community came to a boil after the historic Ambedkar Bhavan was demolished in June. File pic
For all the attention on the Dalit community, it’s surprising that not a single bidder has expressed interest in the proposed Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial, even though nearly a month has passed since the authorities invited tenders to prepare the compound for construction.
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Officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said they are not worried, however. When asked how many bidders had expressed interest so far, one of the officials refused to give details but said, “I cannot comment about this, but usually bidders submit their bids a day or two before the final submission date, so we are expecting a good response in this case too.”
High profile
The project is high profile for several reasons, particularly in light of the recent events surrounding the Dalit community, including the demolition of the historic Ambedkar Bhavan (also in Dadar). The proposed memorial has been designed by famous architect Shashi Prabhu and will feature a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar towering above 15 storeys.
The MMRDA began inviting tenders for the initial work on September 16, and the last date for submission is October 31. MMRDA Superintendent Engineer PJ Bhangare said, “We have invited tenders to dismantle and remove the existing structure, as well as clean and level the premises. Once this is complete, the actual work can begin for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial.”
The company that wins the bid will have two months to complete the job. However, the fact is, work cannot begin until the land is handed over by the National Textile Corporation to the state government.
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