BMC road scam: 180 engineers face serious action

The shoddy repair work landed the officials in the soup. Representation pic

A detailed probe into the repair work of 234 roads in the city has landed 180 engineers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in deep trouble. While six of them have already been removed from service, the others are in for serious action. Of the total 185 officials enquired in the case, only five have been let off.

Over a month after phase I of the probe found 96 engineers guilty, the civic body conducted an enquiry against a total of 169 officials, all of whom have been found guilty as part of phase II. This includes 85 new officials and 84 repeat offenders from the first phase. However, sources in the civic body said that the repeat offenders would be given punishment of the highest nature.

Also read - Rs 352-crore road scam rocks BMC: 88 more engineers to face action

According to civic sources, of the total 169, six have been removed from services, the rank of 23 has been reduced for two years, during which they won't be given any increment and will also get only the basic salary. Four employees will not get pension, 13 won't be given increment for the next three years, 17 won't receive increment for next two years, 67 will not get it for the next year and it would be stopped for 25 employees for the next three years.

Apart from this, 11 workers would just have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior civic official said, "A total of 180 engineers will now face action. However, the 84 repeat offenders will be given the highest quantum of punishment."

Preliminary probe
After Mayor Snehal Ambekar demanded a probe into the shoddy road repair works in 2015, the civic chief had ordered an enquiry in October the same year. A preliminary enquiry was conducted into repair work of 34 roads. After a lot of discrepancies came to the fore, the work of another 200 roads was investigated. Following this, two chief engineers were suspended in 2016 and were later arrested along with an executive engineer.

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