Contractors don’t fix potholes on their roads: Ward officials

MUMBAI: Ward officials from across the city have approached civic chief Ajoy Mehta about road contractors not repairing potholes that spring up on the roads they

MUMBAI: Ward officials from across the city have approached civic chief Ajoy Mehta about road contractors not repairing potholes that spring up on the roads they have laid.

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According to rule laid down by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation — called the defect liability period (DLP) — contractors given tenders for building roads are responsible for their maintenance for three years. The DLP also mandates the contractors fix potholes on such roads in the three-year period. The officials said not only was the quality of work poor, but the contractors continue to neglect their duty even when action is being taken against six contractors in a road scam case.

Mehta, in a review meeting on Saturday, has asked the road department to appoint a liaison officer in the seven zones who will be responsible for coordinating with contractors and fixing the potholes.

in the past month alone, there have been several cases where despite folllow-ups by ward officials, contractors have not fixed potholes under the DLP. The officials were forced to hand over these roads to the civic body’s pothole contractors, sources said.

“We told the civic chief about problems we face when it comes to contractors not cooperating. We had to spend the civic body’s money to fix potholes that should have been filled free of cost by these contractors,” said a ward official, not wishing to be named.