The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to expedite the road concreting project, which aims to upgrade Mumbai’s infrastructure by converting 392 kilometres of asphalt roads to concrete.
Despite the ambitious initiative, which commenced in January 2023 with a substantial allocation of Rs 6,050 crore, the BMC has only managed to complete 30 per cent of the work in the past 18 months. Additional Municipal Commissioner has set a stringent 240-day deadline to complete the remaining 70 per cent of the project. During a high-level meeting with BMC officials, he emphasised the necessity of accelerating the project timeline. He has instructed sub-engineers to collaborate with assistant engineers to devise a comprehensive roadmap for the first and second phases of the project, including a month-by-month schedule to ensure systematic progress.
“No new work should commence until all incomplete roads are finalised,” he stated, highlighting the importance of prioritising ongoing work. Additionally, he directed contractors to undertake construction simultaneously at multiple locations to enhance the speed of completion. To address traffic management issues, BMC has committed to working closely with the traffic police to secure necessary ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs). However, concerns have been raised after recent cracks appeared on some newly concreted roads, prompting the civic body to engage the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, for quality assurance. An agreement is expected to be formalised within the coming week to enable IIT Mumbai to act as a consultant, ensuring that all work meets the required standards.
The BMC has already issued a tender for the second phase of the project, which involves concreting an additional 309 kilometres of roads over the next two and a half years at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore. Bangar has also underscored the need for coordinated efforts with civic departments and private utility companies to prevent trenching after the road work is completed, thereby avoiding any potential damage to newly laid roads. The road concreting project, a critical component of Mumbai’s urban development plan, is seen as crucial for enhancing the city’s road infrastructure and alleviating traffic congestion. The success of this project will depend on adherence to deadlines, quality control, and effective coordination among various stakeholders.
