The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a shift in its policy towards sub-engineers in response to recent objections raised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Engineers Union (BMEU). The union’s intervention highlighted significant challenges faced by engineers amid the ongoing pothole repair operations exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall.
The BMEU had previously submitted a letter to the municipal commissioner, outlining the difficulties encountered by sub-engineers in the Road Departments, particularly regarding delays in pothole maintenance. In a bid to address the union’s concerns, the BMC has decided to withdraw its earlier notices issued for delays in pothole repairs and to ease its approach towards the involved sub-engineers. Mumbai’s roads have been severely impacted by the recent deluge, leading to a surge in pothole formations. The union’s successful advocacy highlights the importance of recognising the challenges faced by municipal engineers in managing essential infrastructure repairs during adverse weather conditions.
In response, the BMC had initially deployed 227 sub-engineers specifically for pothole maintenance, with a mandate to address complaints within a 48-hour window. However, the demanding workload and logistical challenges faced by these engineers prompted the union to advocate for a more lenient stance. The BMEU’s Executive President noted that the BMC’s revised approach came after highlighting the considerable stress endured by engineers, who are working extensive hours—up to 18 hours a day, including weekends—to manage the repairs. The union has called for a restructuring of shift patterns to include two shifts per beat to better accommodate the heavy workload.
The BMC’s responsibilities extend beyond the city’s core to include roads managed by various contractors and agencies such as the Public Works Department (PWD), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Challenges have been further compounded by ongoing metro railway construction, which has adversely affected road conditions maintained by metro contractors. The BMC has also initiated measures to improve road durability by using mastic asphalt at major junctions and circles, while addressing poorly maintained roads linked to metro projects. The union has advocated for meetings with field engineers to discuss and understand the practical difficulties faced in the field.
