Undeterred by scam, BMC sets out to repair 1,004 roads

Stretches being identified, will be completely re-laid over the next 8 months by pumping in Rs2,700 crore

Haji Ali road leading to Nana Chowk, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Parel, and Grant Road will be taken up for repairs in the first phase. FILE PICS

The BMC is still smarting under the embarrassment of the R352-crore road scam, but that hasn’t stopped it from making amends. Beginning October 1, it will begin repairs of 1,004 roads across the city.

The roads will be completely re-laid, at a cost of R2,700 crore, and made anew.

The move comes at a time the special investigation team probing the road scam has sought permission from the BMC to arrest at least 16 more civic officials and prosecute the three officials arrested (see mid-day’s morning edition, 'Cops want to nail BMC’s dirty dozen'). 

Stretches being identified
BMC officials said the civic body has begun identifying roads in need of urgent repairs, like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, stretches in Tardeo, Haji Ali-Nana Chowk, Kabutar Khana Plaza-Sena Bhavan in Dadar and other roads on the western and eastern suburbs.

The BMC has begun talks with the traffic police to get permission for their plan. Tenders have been called and work is expected to begin next month. The repairs are likely to be completed over the next eight months.

Mumbai has over 1,800 km of road networks, and under the BMC’s phase 2 plan, all stretches will be repaired over the next two years. 

'No scam redux'
To avoid a repeat of the notorious road scam, which has caused tremors in the corridors of power, the BMC is expected to keep a hawk eye on all road works. The BMC official said all repairs will be closely monitored. He refused to divulge more details.

R14cr
Loss suffered owing to substandard road works 

26
No. of persons arrested in the road scam

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