Mumbai civic body fines 19 contractors for poor barricading

The BMC on Monday levied a fine of ₹34,86,500 to 19 road contractors in the eastern suburbs for not properly barricading the area during road construction work

Coming down heavily on road contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday levied a fine of ₹34,86,500 to 19 road contractors in the eastern suburbs for not properly barricading the area during road construction work.

Of the 1,106 road repair works, including 321 pending ones from the previous financial year, BMC will complete 522 works before June. (HT FILE)

The civic chief has now directed seven zonal deputy municipal commissioners and 24 assistant municipal commissioners to ensure that the barricading of all BMC-related work, such as sewerage operations, road construction, and water supply should be of high quality, like the one used in Metro works earlier this year.

At present, the type of barricading to be used is not specified in the contract condition. Thus, oftentimes, broken, oxidised iron planks or even just red flags are used.

The highest amount of fine levied is ₹26.48 lakh on the road construction contractors in Chembur (West), followed by ₹1.74 lakh on contractors in Deonar and Govandi.

In the eastern suburbs, construction work is ongoing in Kurla, Chembur, Govandi, Deonar, Ghatkopar and Mulund. Of the 1,106 road repair works, including 321 pending ones from the previous financial year, BMC will complete 522 works before June. The rest will be taken up after the monsoon and completed by March 2019.