The recently constructed concrete road in Aarey Colony, Mumbai, has developed cracks at various locations, raising concerns about the quality of construction. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Road department officials have acknowledged the issue and assured residents that necessary repairs will be carried out. The construction project involved the concretization of Aarey Colony's main road from Goregaon Junction to the L & T junction of Powai. The project, initiated in 2022 and expected to be completed by 2025 with a budget of Rs. 51 crore, has a 10-year defect liability period.
The recently constructed concrete road in Aarey Colony has developed cracks at various locations, raising concerns about the quality of the construction. Despite having a 10-year liability period, the road has come under scrutiny from activists and locals who are disappointed with what they deem as shoddy work. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Road department officials have acknowledged the issue and have assured residents that the necessary repairs will be carried out.
The construction project, initiated by BMC, involves the concretization of Aarey Colony's main road from Goregaon Junction to the L & T junction of Powai. The project, which commenced in 2022, is expected to be completed by 2025. The BMC had allocated a significant budget of Rs. 51 crore to the construction company responsible for the road. According to the terms outlined in the tender document, the defect liability period for the road is set at 10 years. Furthermore, 20% of the contract amount is to be disbursed in equal instalments over the course of the decade following the completion of the project.
However, upon inspection, it was evident that the newly constructed road displayed several cracks at various points. Aarey Colony residents expressed dismay, emphasizing that the BMC's substantial investment in cement concrete roads should yield durable and reliable infrastructure. They call for stringent action against the contractor responsible for the apparent substandard work.
A BMC official involved in the project admitted to the presence of cracks on the road and confirmed that the contractor has been instructed to reconstruct the affected patches. The official also mentioned that a fine would be imposed on the contractor in accordance with the established rules. Despite some former BMC officials downplaying the significance of certain cracks, attributing them to factors like improper levelling of the road base or excessive water content in the concrete mix, concerns persist regarding the overall quality of the construction.
The present issue highlights the matter of quality in public infrastructure. Substandard public infrastructure is not only a wastage of public resources but also a safety risk to the people who use these services. Thus, it is essential that those at fault are held accountable and the necessary corrections are done to ensure quality in the work going ahead.
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