BMC likely to frame guidelines for ready mix concrete vehicles

A ready mix concrete (RMC) vehicle plies on Eastern Express Highway on Wednesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The issue of concrete falling off ready mix concrete (RMC) vehicles, damaging the quality of roads and also leading to traffic congestion, has again come to the fore. Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ajitkumar Ambi of S ward, covering Bhandup, raised the matter during the disaster management authority meeting to review monsoon preparedness, at the civic headquarters on Tuesday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is considering forming guidelines for these kinds of vehicles. Additional Municipal Commissioner P Velrasu did not respond to mid-day's calls.

"Many times concrete falls from these vehicles which not only damages the road, but also leads to traffic jams as other vehicles are forced to reduce their speed. If precautionary measures are not taken, this might even lead to an accident during monsoon," Ambi said.

A BMC official said, "After unloading concrete at construction sites, these vehicles need to reach the plant fast before the concrete solidifies in the mixer. Hence drivers tend to speed even as concrete falls on the road."

"The wet concrete dries up really fast, making it difficult to remove. This makes the road dangerous for commuters, especially two- and three-wheelers," the official added.

"According to records, there are 5,000 locations in Mumbai where construction is ongoing while the number of RMC plants stands at a little over 20. Developers often use ready mix concrete as there is a space crunch for making concrete at the site," said an official.

Last year, the BMC had lodged complaints against 11 drivers over the issue at Shahu Nagar police station in Dharavi.

Citizen activist Godfrey Pimenta said, "This is a problem motorists have been facing for a long time. The BMC should act strictly on this. They can use technology such as GPS tracking to identify the vehicles."

He added, "Apart from the concrete, even soil and stones often fall on the road."

"Bikers face this problem more as bikes can easily skid," said Mahesh Padaya, a biker. He added, "Not only concrete, but excavated soil, sand and even stones often fall on the road from vehicles during transportation which makes it especially difficult for two-wheelers. I even witnessed a bike skid because of fallen sand. The BMC should make rules before anyone dies due to such negligence."

20
Approx. no. of RMC plants in city