BMC tightens screws on tainted contractors for bad roads!
Aggravated at the Mumbaikars’ criticism about bad roads and the rise in deaths due to such inferior quality roads, the BMC Vigilance Team was instructed to conduct a reality check and present a report. The enquiry team inspected 187 roads and was left aghast to find 96% of roads in Mumbai ‘inferior’ or ‘bad roads! The enquiry panel placed these roads under the DPL (Defect Liability Period) category, which means the roads are so bad that they would be wrecked within their stipulated service contract period. Based on the report, the BMC served notice to 41 contractors for bad roads.
One of the contractors served notice was Sunrise Stone Industries who has made a substandard road at Mahakavi Kalidas Road under the Defect Liability Period (DLP). The contractor had assured BMC under the terms of DLP that the road would be in good condition till May 2020. Forget 2020, tragically, the road has begun deteriorating within a few years of its construction. Interestingly, the contractor Sunrise Stone Industries had been black-listed three years ago yet BMC gave him the order!!
A regular motorist commuting on the road said, “The road has an uneven surface, hence driving over it is hazardous. It not only harms the vehicle but motorists develop back pain and face other health issues.”
It may be noted that BMC in its notice to Sunrise Stone Industries specifically informed that the surface of the road is bumpy and ordered to repair and make the surface smooth. The contractor did the repairs but inspection by the inquiry team of BMC found the road to be below standard despite repairs!! The contractor has been again asked to do a quality job. The BMC has even threatened if the work is not satisfactory BMC would penalize heavily.
