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RInfra-Astaldi bags Mumbai’s Versova-Bandra sea-link project (Lead)
Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS) The Reliance Infrastructure Ltd-Astaldi S.p.A. (Italy) consortium has bagged the project for the much-anticipated northern extension of the Rajiv Gandhi Bandra Worli Sea Link from Bandra to Versova, an official said here on Tuesday.
The consortium signed an agreement with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for the Rs 7,000 crore Bandra-Versova arm of the RGBWSL within five years, with work slated to start in October.
In the competitive bidding process, RInfra-Astaldi with its bid of Rs 6,993.99 crore beat the L&T-Samsung and Hyundai Development Ltd-ITD to bag the country’s single biggest urban infrastructure project.
The MSRDC had floated the tenders for the construction of the second sea link on an EPC-basis to build the Versova-Bandra Sea Link, 17.17 km-long, or three times the existing 5.6 km-long RGBWSL.
“Once completed, Versova-Bandra Sea Link project will slash commute time from Worli to Versova from almost two hours to mere 15 minutes and transform the way people live and travel in Mumbai,” said RInfra CEO Lalit Jalan.
RInfra EPC CEO Arun Gupta said the mega-project will further propel the company as a premier EPC company in India.
“Our partnership with Astaldi S.p.A. will help us create a truly world class mega-infrastructure project for Mumbai,” Gupta said.
Though the project is slotted for completion within five years, during monsoons, works would be completely stalled, giving the consortium barely three-and-half years to ready it.
MSRDC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Radhyesham Mopalwar said the link will bring huge relief to the traffic congestion of Mumbai along with comfort to the travellers.
“Considering the size of the work (three times longer than present sea link), it would be iconic among the country’s infrastructure wonders,” Mopalwar said.
Jalan added that the existing Sea Link carries one million vehicles per year, but once completed the Versova-Bandra Sea Link is estimated to serve nearly 10 times that number, or one crore vehicles per annum, permitting Mumbaikars hassle-free connectivity from Worli to Versova with just one toll stoppage.
Since it is a project awarded on engineering and construction basis, there is no operating or revenue implication for Reliance Infrastructure, he added.
The present 5.6 km-long RGBWSL, a cable-stayed bridge between Bandra and Worli, was fully opened for operations in early 2010.
The country’s first sealink road project, the RGBWSL, has slashed the travel time between Worli and Bandra from around 40 minutes to barely 10 minutes, and later plans were announced to extend the alternative sea route to Nariman Point in south and to Versova and finally till Borivali in north.
The Astaldi S.p.A., RInfra’s project partner, is the world’s third largest player in bridge construction and has executed the world’s fourth longest suspension bridge Izmit Bay Bridge, Turkey worth Rs 45,500 crore in April 2016.
That year, it also completed the Western High Speed Diameter Motorway in St. Petersburg, Russia, worth Rs 17,600 crore, comprising a 12 km section with 5.3 km-long viaducts on sea and two cable-stayed bridges.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.