The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a firm stance against the inadequate performance of contractors tasked with repairing potholes, imposing a substantial penalty of INR 50.53 lakh. This action comes in response to widespread complaints from Mumbai residents about deteriorating road conditions exacerbated by the recent heavy rains.
The penalty affects 32 contractors responsible for pothole repairs across the city’s 227 municipal wards. The fine reflects the BMC’s commitment to ensuring road safety and maintaining infrastructure, particularly during the monsoon season when potholes are more likely to form. The financial penalties are distributed based on the performance of contractors in various regions INR 24.85 lakh for those managing the western suburbs, INR 8.85 lakh for the island city division, INR 5.48 lakh for the eastern suburbs, and INR 11.35 lakh for maintenance work along major highways. The BMC has also imposed penalties totalling INR 28.30 lakh on 13 contractors assigned to pothole filling, INR 20.45 lakh on 10 project contractors, and INR 1.18 lakh on nine defect liability period contractors.
The BMC has indicated that these penalties will be deducted from the contractors’ payments, reinforcing the seriousness of their oversight responsibilities. To address the surge in pothole complaints, the BMC has employed 227 sub-engineers and appointed 18 additional contractors specifically for the monsoon period. This robust oversight mechanism has facilitated the resolution of over 6,000 pothole-related issues. Despite these efforts, the BMC’s proactive measures have not fully quelled public dissatisfaction. This year, the BMC’s budget allocation for road maintenance has seen a significant increase.
The municipal body has earmarked INR 545 crore for roadworks, marking a 36% rise from the previous year’s expenditure of INR 400 crore, which addressed 70,000 potholes. Of this budget, INR 275 crore is specifically allocated for pothole repairs. Additionally, an INR 146 crore tender was awarded for maintenance and repair of major arterial roads. The BMC has also issued notices to 13 sub-engineers who failed to resolve pothole issues in their assigned areas. This move underscores the BMC’s rigorous approach to ensuring that infrastructure maintenance meets the city’s needs and expectations.
