Work in unison to keep roads intact: BMC chief

In order to curb frequent digging up of roads for installation of underground public utilities, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has chalked out a standard operating procedure (SOP) to coordinate with all the agencies and complete work at a go. Roads are often dug up for utility installations such as water pipelines, sewer lines, telephone lines and electricity-related works.

Taking a step in this direction, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has directed all the 24 ward officers to ensure that works involving digging up of roads happen simultaneously. The ward officers will have to oversee the work and make sure that the roads are restored and in good condition after the completion of work.

A civic official said, “Each agency takes up public utility work at different points of the year. As a result, one road is dug up a number of times. Besides, the haphazardly done work worsens the condition of the road. Often substandard material is used to repair the road. We have noticed that the quality of the road deteriorates each time it is dug up.”

As per this SOP, it will be the responsibility of the agency digging a road to repair the same after their work is done. Besides, keeping in mind the vehicular safety, the agencies will have to barricade the patch of road undergoing repair. It will also have to display a plaque mentioning its name, nature of the repair work and the duration of the work.

The concerned agency will be penalised if the work is not completed within the stipulated time or the road repair is found to be unsatisfactory.

“The municipal commissioner has directed all officials to be very strict about these rules. There is no point in maintaining transparency and quality in road repair works, if private agencies are going to spoil perfectly smooth roads by digging them up and leaving them as they are,” said a senior civic official.