Modification work starts on over 1,000 roads, footpaths
The civic body has started work to modify more than 1,000 roads. It will improve medians and footpaths while simultaneously taking up carriageway works. Nearly 3000 crore has been sanctioned for the road improvement project which is part of BMC’s master plan submitted to the Bombay high court last year.
The BMC is searching new technology like ultra thin white topping—for roads with low traffic density and parking lots—and other material like polymer modified bitumen. Special teams—comprising civic engineers—will be formed to constantly monitor, audit and conduct quality checks along with the BMC’s vigilance department.
Mr. SVR Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, says that there was no planning in road development work. They are treating roads on the basis of certain parameters like volume of traffic, actual load of vehicles, condition of roads and if it is an arterial road.
The major will modify major roads like Dr Ambedkar Road, P Dmello Road, and Barrister Nath Pai Road in Kalachowkie and Acharya Dhonde Marg in Parel (E). The civic body will mainly look at uniformity, gradient and quality of tiles used for footpaths.
Mr. Srinivas says that they plan to use sand-blasted tiles which are thicker and do not break easily. A large number of footpaths do not have a continuous stretch. They plan to align the external utilities like postboxes and electric poles to one side so that pedestrians have an uninterrupted walkway.
He also says that the design consultant has been appointed and all the roads more than 60 ft wide will be concertized. As the contractors do not maintain roads, they plan to include a maintenance clause in the tender.
According to Master plan, a road length of 1,239-km is proposed to be taken up for improvement at a total value of Rs 7,774 crore which is to be completed in 2 phase.
Source: The Times of India
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