BMC suspends errant contractor
In what is probably the first instance of strict action being taken for the sorry condition of roads, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has suspended a contractor for a period of two weeks for carrying out shoddy pothole filling works in areas like Andheri, Vile Parle, Juhu, Goregaon and Kandivali.
A Nagpur-based company, Atasha–Ashirwad builders and Anjali Logistics (joint venture), who were given the work of four wards in the western suburbs for pothole filling — has been suspended as they have attended to only 40 per cent of potholes which have been registered.
According to the civic officials, the contractor was asked to carry out repair works within 48 hours of receiving complaints about potholes. Despite this, roads in K-East, K-West, P-South and R-South wards are in pathetic condition due to the pothole problem.
A total of 1,017 potholes have been reported on the major roads in the four wards given to the contractor and 272 potholes were reported on minor roads in the four wards.
The Nagpur-based company was a first-time bidder for pothole filling works and they were found lacking in machinery as well as knowledge of the area, said civic officials.
Additional municipal commissioner S.V.R. Srinivas said, “The contractor’s work has been too poor and the firm has been suspended for two weeks. We will decide about the firm after reviewing its preparations.”
Meanwhile, the BMC has asked the contractors working in the nearby wards to attend the potholes in the concerned four wards. This year the BMC has appointed two
contractors per zone to fill potholes. These contracts are approximately worth `50 crore.
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