Quality is sacrificed in race to meet the deadline

While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been drawing flak for a string of delayed projects, but it is the race to the deadline that may be responsible for the poor quality of the city’s flyovers.

While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been drawing flak for a string of delayed projects, but it is the race to the deadline that may be responsible for the poor quality of the city’s flyovers.

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The MMRDA had taken the risk of scheduling the inauguration of three key infrastructure projects in the monsoon. The two that were recently opened up — the Lalbaug and the Barfiwala flyovers — have already developed potholes.

The third, the Suman Nagar flyover is scheduled to be inaugurated in August.

The Standing Technical Advisory Committee had put up recommendations saying that road laying should not be done after May 15, so as to ensure that enough time is given for the road to settle, before the onset of monsoon. A newly laid road is more susceptible to potholes as it does not have time to settle down, and water can seep in easily. However, these guidelines were not followed by the MMRDA.

However, MMRDA officials claim that inaugurating these projects in the monsoon is for the larger good of the people. “It was a toss-up between delaying the opening to October or opening in the monsoon. We choose the latter,” said Metropolitan Commissioner Rahul Asthana.