With the nodal agency for the second Metro Rail corridor extending the date for submission of financial bids months before the general elections, the corridor may be thrown off track. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Wednesday extended the date by a fortnight.

This follows protests from citizens of the western suburbs, the area that will be served by the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route of the corridor.

This the second extension for submission of financial bids for the corridor. “Several issues raised by bidders at the pre-bid meeting have to be resolved in consultation with the Government of India. Therefore an extension was given,” Ratnakar Gaikwad, Metropolitan Commissioner, told Newsline.

The bids will be submitted on February 16.

Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Wednesday hinted at the general elections being held any time between April 8 and May 15. Sources said the awarding of the contract for the corridor may be put on hold in case the code of conduct for the general elections is in place by March. Once the code of conduct is in place, policy decisions and decisions on contracts and tenders are put on hold.

The extension would mean work orders for construction of the second corridor are likely only after elections.