Award of toll deal to be subject to court ruling

MUMBAI: In view of the petition filed by the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Infrastructure, the Bombay High Court said on Tuesday that selection of a contractor for toll collection at five entry points in Mumbai would be subject to the court���s final ruling. The contract is worth over Rs 2,100 crore.

RInfra, which was one of the seven bidders for the contract, had apprehended that its bid would be disqualified arbitrarily and had moved the High Court.

Rinfra���s lawyer Iqbal Chhagla said that even when the matter was before the HC, the financial bids were opened on Tuesday, and RInfra was told by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) that its bid had not qualified.

���It���s a breach of faith,��� Chhagla said, adding that only yesterday, when the matter was heard for the first time, the MSRDC had said that R Infra���s petition was ���premature���. MSRDC���s lawyer Rafiq Dada conceded that financial bids were opened in the morning, and RI had been disqualified. Of seven bidders, four had been disqualified, Dada said.

Chhagla claimed that MEP TOLL Pvt Ltd, the current contractor, has won the tender, but MSRDC lawyer said that he was not aware as to who has been selected.