City’s road contractors cut corners

The latest report by SGS consultants, a private third-party auditor appointed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has yet again listed numerous instances of contractors compromising on both quality and quantity, with little concern for your roads.

The latest report by SGS consultants, a private third-party auditor appointed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has yet again listed numerous instances of contractors compromising on both quality and quantity, with little concern for your roads.

HT Image

From using inferior quality of raw materials, to employing inadequate machinery and manpower, to not widening the road to its designed width, contractors have been found flouting norms with impunity.

In the report submitted to the civic standing technical advisory committee (STAC) last week, the auditor has said that it has recently found at least 39 occurrences involving malpractices by contractors. Of them, 57% were in the western suburbs, 28% in eastern suburbs, and the rest 8% in the island city.

The report also points out that contractors have been skimping majorly on manpower and machinery. For instance, KR Constructions, a contractor incharge of roadwork in the western suburbs, employed only 22 of the 42 heavy machines required, the auditor found.

Confirming the report, additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said: “The auditor has pointed out a number of deficiencies in the workings of contractors. We are studying the report, and contemplating the steps to be taken.”