The future course of the much-awaited monorail scheme will be decided on Monday, when financial bids received from reputed manufacturers across the world will be taken up for scrutiny.
The scheme has been much delayed as previous tender floated for identifying the manufacturer was cancelled and refloated after alleged discrepancies. The tender for identifying the consultant was also annulled after zeroing in on a Mumbai-based firm.
“The bids received from various concerns will be opened on March 19 and will be evaluated by the scrutinising committee that involves officials from transport and finance departments,” sources in the government told Deccan Chronicle on Friday.
However, after evaluating the bids, it would be sent to the empowered monorail committee headed by the chief secretary and comprises secretaries of various departments including transport and urban development for the final decision.
The Hyderabad-based consultant firm identified last month for the project would give their expertise in finalising the developer, but the empowered monorail committee will have a final say on identifying successful contractor. Once the implementing agency is finalised, the project would gain steam.
In the first phase, the 57-km-long network will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 8,500 crore and comprises a network of three elevated corridors –Vandalur to Velachery; Poonamallee to Kathipara; and Poonamallee to Vadapalani.
In the second phase, Asia’s longest monorail corridor from Vandalur to Puzhal will be taken up.