L&T vs MMRDA: ₹14,000 Cr Tunnel Dispute Hits Supreme Court.

L&T vs MMRDA: ₹14,000 Cr Infra Dispute Reaches Supreme Court

• Tunnel Tender Tussle: L&T Challenges Bombay HC Verdict

• SC to Hear L&T Plea in Mega Infra Bid Row

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s decision allowing MMRDA to open financial bids for two ₹14,000 crore infrastructure projects in Mumbai. L&T alleges procedural lapses. The Supreme Court will hear the case Friday. Sprouts News SIT highlights transparency concerns in public tenders.

Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has approached the Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court ruling that allowed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to proceed with opening financial bids for two major infrastructure projects collectively worth ₹14,000 crore. These projects include the construction of a critical road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction and an elevated road along the congested Thane-Ghodbunder corridor.

The apex court has scheduled the matter for hearing on Friday, where arguments from both L&T and the Maharashtra state government will be heard.

Supreme Court to Hear L&T’s Plea Against MMRDA Tender Process

During the hearing led by Justice JB Pardiwala, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state, sought a brief adjournment citing his prior involvement in the ongoing waqf case. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, AM Singhvi, and Ranjit Kumar are appearing on behalf of the state government and L&T respectively, underscoring the high-profile nature of the legal face-off.

L&T’s core contention lies in the procedural irregularities related to the tender process initiated by MMRDA. The company alleges that the process of opening financial bids lacked adequate transparency and violates the fair competition principles mandated in public infrastructure tenders.

Bombay HC Verdict Favours MMRDA, But With Conditions

On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court dismissed L&T’s petitions challenging MMRDA’s decision to open price bids for the Thane-Ghodbunder–Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects. However, the court directed that the bids submitted electronically by L&T must be kept in a sealed cover for a period of two weeks.

The order, passed by a division bench of Justices Kamal R Khata and Arif S Doctor, offered a narrow window for L&T to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, which the company has now utilized.

Infra Stakes High in ₹14,000 Cr Mumbai Projects

Both projects form part of Maharashtra’s high-impact urban infrastructure pipeline, aimed at decongesting traffic in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and boosting regional connectivity. The Thane-Ghodbunder Road in particular is a lifeline for thousands of daily commuters. The Gaimukh–Fountain Hotel Junction tunnel has been envisioned to ease bottlenecks along key suburban corridors.

With over ₹14,000 crore at stake, the controversy has captured the attention of stakeholders across the infrastructure, legal, and public policy sectors. L&T’s objection raises broader concerns around bid evaluation practices, tender transparency, and procurement governance—issues that often define the credibility of large-scale public-private infrastructure engagements.

Sprouts News SIT: Legal Oversight Crucial in Public Procurement

A Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) review highlights that this legal dispute touches on deeper structural issues in India’s public procurement ecosystem. While MMRDA maintains procedural compliance, L&T’s insistence on judicial intervention underscores industry concerns over level playing fields and bid integrity.

The SIT notes that while courts often avoid intervening in administrative tender decisions, this case could set a precedent—especially when it involves high-value public assets and national-level infrastructure developers.

Also Read: Mangrove Massacre: Mira-Bhayandar’s Green Grab Exposed.

Outcome Could Influence Future Infra Tenders

The Supreme Court’s response on Friday will likely shape not only the future of the two Mumbai projects but also the framework of legal scrutiny in infrastructure tenders. Should the court find merit in L&T’s arguments, it could mandate procedural safeguards for all similar tenders across India.

In a high-stakes environment where transparency, efficiency, and fairness are paramount, industry watchers and policymakers await the next judicial step with keen interest.

Allegations Mount: How MEIL Is Reportedly Using TV9 for Liaison and Influence

Concerns are surfacing over Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) allegedly leveraging the TV9 news network as a tool for political and bureaucratic liaisoning.

Industry insiders, Sprouts News Team and whistleblowers claim that MEIL has formed a strategic media nexus, using the channel’s editorial platform to influence public perception and mute scrutiny of controversial deals. According to sources familiar with internal dealings, the media outreach is being used to both suppress negative coverage and promote favorable narratives around MEIL’s big-ticket infrastructure projects. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining the growing claims of how this alleged synergy between a corporate giant and a major news outlet may be facilitating opaque tender wins, project approvals, and a lack of transparency in state-level contract allocations.