In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to begin its road concretisation project from October 1, with a target of completing phase 1 by May 2025, The Indian Express reported.
The phase 1 of the project encompasses 397 kilometres. In a meeting with engineers from the civic road department, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar instructed the civic body to fast-track the concreting work starting in October and to coordinate with departments overseeing utility service channels to avoid delays.
Concretisation of Mumbai roads: Phase 1
Phase 1 is a part of BMC’s mega Rs 6,000 crore road concretisation project, announced by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in 2022.
According to the civic plans, Phase I of the concretisation project covers 394 kilometers, while Phase II is set to address 309 kilometers. As of now, concretisaton work is ongoing in the eastern and western suburbs, however, the work in the island city is yet to start. According to Bangar, work on the second phase, which involves the concretisation of roads in the island city, will also begin in October.
The BMC has set a target of 240 days to finish the first phase, from October 2024 to May 2025.
Bangar said, “We have already completed 30 percent of the phase I concretisation project, excluding the works in the island city…Now that we have issued the five work orders for the second phase, work on the island city division is also slated to commence from October 1.”
Covering the eastern and western suburbs as well as the island city division, the BMC has issued work orders for the concretisation of nearly 701 kilometers of city roads. During a meeting on Tuesday, Bangar emphasised the need for a detailed monthly schedule, instructing engineers to compile a list of roads designated for their areas.
“The road which is incomplete should be completed on priority. New roads should be taken up only after completion of incomplete roads,” he said.
Bangar has said that the ideal time to finish the concretisation of a patch, including the excavation, lies between 30 to 45 days.