Mhada gets only 2 bidders for Dharavi pilot project

Mumbai:A year after it was given the mandate to redevelop Sector V,Mhada has got bids from only two firms in response to its advertisement inviting contractors to build 344 flats as part of a pilot project in Dharavi. The two bidders are Shirke Constructions and Neptune Group.      However, even before the bids are finalized, Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad has warned against opening them. "Three years ago, the state government cancelled bids saying there was inadequate competition despite seven companies showing interest. If the government found seven bids insufficient, then on what grounds can Mhada claim good competition and open the bids when it has received only two responses?'' he argued.      Gaikwad further said: "When the government asked Mhada to redevelop one sector, we were reassured that slumdwellers would be rehabilitated in buildings constructed by bigger developers. None of these contractors has bid and it appears that the conditions have been framed to favour one bidder. We will not allow this to happen. The government will have to call for fresh bids."     If the poor response was not enough, a group of housing societies led by Gaikwad and his legislator daughter, Varsha, sat on a one-day hunger strike recently to protest against the delay in implementation of the Dharavi redevelopment project.      Sachin Ahir, minister of state for housing, said though they have received only two bids, the government would ensure quality work by the successful bidder. "This is just a pilot project. Our aim is to counter claims that the Dharavi project will not take off. We are confident that once the pilot project takes off, we will see reputable companies participate in the bid for the balance area in Sector V. I will try to explain this to Gaikwad,'' said Ahir.