Mumbai to use digital tools to supervise engineering work, curb corruption

After putting various guidelines in place to curb corruption and improve the quality of work carried out at the ward level and centrally by the contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to use digital equipment to check roads and carry out other work.

After putting various guidelines in place to curb corruption and improve the quality of work carried out at the ward level and centrally by the contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to use digital equipment to check roads and carry out other work.

The advantage of these tests is that the results are reliable and instant, reducing the scope for fudging. Further, these tests are non destructive ones, based on front line technologies. (HT File Photo)

Earlier, the checks were done through traditional methods using measuring tapes, and heavily relied on manual calculations and visual inspections. The civic body is now looking at introducing concrete gauge — an instrument that can measure the thickness of the concrete slab or pavement without digging roads. Another instrument — the digital thermometer — can record the temperature of any material and can be used to check the temperature of hot mix materials while laying out asphalt roads.

The advantage of these tests is that the results are reliable and instant, reducing the scope for fudging. Further, these tests are non destructive ones, based on front line technologies.

The vigilance department, which is responsible for keeping an eye on the working of various civic departments such as roads, storm water drains, and solid waste management, among others, has identified these digital instruments for testing, inspection of materials and quality of work during construction and upon completion.

The introduction of the new technology for inspection is being looked upon as one of the important measures that can curtail malpractices carried out by contractors during civic engineering works, after the several scams that rocked BMC between 2015 and 2016.

Chief engineer of the vigilance department, Manohar Pawar, demonstrated some of the instruments at BMC’S Worli office.

A civic official from the vigilance department, said, “Very soon, these instruments will be made available for vigilance activities to department officials.”

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