Crackdown in Mumbai over poor work; 3 contractors fined

With the pre-monsoon deadline looming for road concretisation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is cracking down on contractors and agencies for substandard work, delays and ready mix concrete (RMC).

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI:

In the eastern suburbs, at Aarey Colony in Goregaon, in P-South Ward, a contractor has been barred from bidding for tenders across BMC departments for the next two years and fined 25 lakh. Two other road contractors have been fined 20 lakh each, for lapses in the quality and execution of work in Mankhurd and in Dongri.

In addition, due to discrepancies in slump tests (a method used to gauge the quality of cement), the registration of two RMC plants in Turbhe has been cancelled. These plants have been prohibited from supplying the concrete mix for any BMC projects for the next six months.

The punitive action comes as deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is also guardian minister for Mumbai city, told Mumbaiites, "No durusti, no khadda (No repairs, no potholes) for 25 years," while inspecting ongoing road concretisation work on Tuesday.