BMC’s on a roll with road works

In the run-up to the 2022 BMC polls, BMC is launching a bonus of road works, which will soon finalize tenders worth Rs 1,200 crore.  Many city roads will be taken up for reconstruction and maintenance.  With polling set to take place early next year, corporators are keen to hold road works bhumi pujas in their constituencies.

When BMC officials said the road works were planned and taken over after site inspection, the opposition warned that if they were rushed, it could lead to road corruption in 2017.  Construction of 34 roads was revealed to be slow.  "BMC is making the same mistake again ... many roads in good condition are being taken over for repairs ... BMC should re-examine all the roads it intends to take over for repairs and select those that need rework," said Reyes Sheikh, a Samajwadi Party corporator and MLA.BJP corporator Vinod Mishra said this would lead to another scam.  BMC must need a third party audit of all roads. 

Roads taken for repairs should be audited prior to repairs to see if they actually need maintenance.  There should be internal and external audit to prevent corruption.  Random trial pits should be taken at all sites,”Mishra said. BMC's Additional Commissioner (Projects) P Velrasu said the Rs 1 lakh crore road works are in various stages of processing at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.  The tender is for a list of priority works as assessed by the Roads Department and ward officers,”said Velrasu.  "BMC will set up a strong oversight system to monitor the quality of work ... including third party evaluation."