Road scam amount nears Rs 1,000 crore

Mumbai: The total amount of misappropriation by contractors in the road repairs scam could be a massive Rs 959 crore, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) second report on the scam.

While the BMC has decided not to levy a fine on the contractors concerned, their payments will be withheld till the entire probe into the scam is over. However, the civic body will allow these tainted contractors to complete the remaining road works in the city.

In its second report on roads repairs scam, the BMC has found that 16 contractors have allegedly embezzled to the tune of Rs 959 crore out of the total cost of Rs 1,700 crore for 200 road works, which were inspected by a high-level civic committee. The probe has revealed that there were lots of irregularities in the road works. The contractors defied the norms by not maintaining the required thickness in the various crust layers in most of the roads, the inquiry found.

The inquiry into the road repairs scam was instigated by a letter written by mayor Snehal Ambekar asking municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta to probe shoddy works carried out by contractors. The probe was conducted by deputy municipal commissioner Vasant Prabhu and chief engineer (bridges) S.P. Kori.

However, learning from past experience, the BMC this time has decided not to levy penalty on the contractors. “In the desilting scam, we had imposed fine on contractors. Making use of it, contractors contended that they have paid the fine and the court allowed them to go free. We will not let it happen now. We want criminal liability to be fixed on them,” said a top civic official on condition of anonymity.

The contractors named in the second inquiry report are M/s Shah and Parikh, M/s Speco, M/s Preeti, M/s Supreme, M/s Landmark, M/s Prakash, M/s Vitrag, M/s New India Roadways, M/s Mukesh Brothers and M/s RE Infra. Those named in the first scam report are M/s RPS Infra, M/s KR Construction, M/s Jay Kumar, M/s Relcon Infraprojects, M/s RK Madhani and M/s Mahavir Infrastructure.

The BMC has, however, decided to get the remaining road works completed by the same tainted contractors. “After the inquiry is finalised, we will issue these contractors show-cause notice and start the blacklisting process. But as of now, many of the road works are yet to be completed. Inviting new tenders for the remaining works will take minimum four months’ time, due to which these works will be delayed. Hence these contractors will be asked to continue remaining road works,” said an official from the roads department.