Rd contractor in dock over poor concrete

Civic body serves notice to contractor after failed slump test, seeks response within seven days

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: A contractor suspected of using substandard concrete to pave streets in Chembur and Mankhurd as part of the city-wide drive to concretise roads has been served a notice by the civic authorities. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) investigates why this batch failed the crucial slump test, it is hard to say whether this was the only instance of use of substandard concrete in the ambitious drive to make Mumbai's streets pothole-free.

The contractor in question, appointed for concretising streets in the eastern suburbs, was hauled up by the BMC on March 22 during a spot inspection. He has been given a week's time to respond to the notice, failing which further action will be initiated.

The slump test is crucial in road construction as it measures the consistency of concrete by assessing its workability, cement content and water content. The substandard batch was identified at work sites on Nitu Mandke Marg and Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Marg.