BMC Under Scrutiny for Poor Cement Quality on Aarey Road After Repeated Excavation
Mumbai’s Aarey Milk Colony Road, which had been newly constructed with cement concrete, is now facing severe scrutiny following its second excavation in a matter of months. This latest digging, conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has raised concerns about the quality of materials used in the road’s construction, with city activists demanding an immediate inspection of the cement concrete’s quality.
Activist Godfrey Pimenta, from the Watchdog Foundation, has urged the BMC to conduct a thorough inquiry into the repeated excavation at the same spot, which is located near the Goregaon entry point. Pimenta has sent an email to both the Chief Minister’s Office and the municipal commissioner, highlighting that the road has been dug up for repairs a second time, with visible debris from the previous cement concrete work still scattered across the site. He expressed alarm, stating that the recurring need for repairs strongly indicates substandard construction practices. The persistent excavation of this newly laid cement concrete road is causing significant disruptions, particularly during peak hours. Daily commuters have reported increased traffic jams and inconvenience as ongoing construction work continues to block sections of the road. Furthermore, reports revealed that the cement road had developed cracks in at least 10 spots just months after its completion. In response, the BMC had previously fined the contractor Rs 28.45 lakh for the substandard work and promised to address the cracks. Despite this, the recurring issues signal deeper concerns about the quality of work.
The BMC had initiated the project in 2022, with an expected completion by 2025. The road project, worth Rs 51.6 crore, was divided into two sections, one stretching from the Western Express Highway to Filter Pada and the other from Marol to Picnic Point. The road was meant to have a 10-year defect liability period, under which the contractor is responsible for repairing any defects within this time frame. However, the recent excavations, combined with the visible degradation of the cement concrete, raise questions about the contractor’s commitment to meeting the required standards. Activists and residents are calling for greater accountability and transparency from the BMC to ensure that these public works projects adhere to the quality expected by the city’s citizens. Given the scale of the investment and the inconvenience caused to thousands of commuters, it is crucial for the BMC to take swift action, inspecting the cement quality and holding those responsible for substandard work accountable. The recurring issues not only harm the public’s trust but also risk further delays in completing vital infrastructure projects in the city.
