Rs 1,095 cr has been set aside for road reform works, which is a reduction of 62% from the last fiscal
With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) having trimmed its budget down by around 32 per cent for the financial year 2017-18, the budget estimates for road repairs or constructions has also fallen sharply by 62 per cent from the budget for the previous fiscal. However, civic officials say that the reduction will not have an adverse impact on major road reform projects, as a significant portion of funds earmarked for such works in previous years used to remain unspent.
In 2016-17, Rs 2,886 crore was allocated for road repairs or constructions. However, in the financial year 2017-18, the civic body has proposed only Rs 1,095 crore for such work. Poor execution of road repair works last year is believed to be a major reason for the budget being cut down on. The BMC has made a provision of Rs 3,555 crore for various road-related works during financial year 2017-18.
The corporation has proposed Rs 1,000 crore for the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), while Rs 130 crore has been set aside for the Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. It has also allocated Rs 1,095 crore for road repairs or construction works during the year. Apart from this, the civic body has also proposed Rs 1,030 crore for new roads under the city’s proposed development plan (DP) 2014-2034.
The civic body plans to complete the coastal road project in four years and the updated estimated cost of the project is Rs 15,000 crore. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said that the request for qualification (RFQ) of MCRP has already been published for shortlisting bidders for the 9.98-km southern part of MCRP, and by the end of this month, the process of shortlisting the bidders will be completed. The total length of the coastal road is 29.2 km.
According to Mehta, funds have been allocated to departments as per their capacity to execute works, and officials will be held responsible for not using the funds allocated.
The BMC has stressed on transparency and proposed a number of reforms in the roads department. “In order to make the existing bidding process more transparent, fair and competitive, the pre-qualification criteria for the bidders have been modified on the lines of the other government departments. The entire process continues to be online for all works,” Mehta said.
In order to bring down costs to match the proposed budget, the civic body will adopt a new approach for road works. It will complete works in the minimal possible time to prevent wasteful expenditure. “We will avoid reconstruction of roads where they can be improved by milling and resurfacing the upper crust of the road. By doing this, we can bring down reconstruction costs from Rs 3,500- Rs 4,500 per sq m to Rs 1,370-Rs 2,800 for asphalt and mastic,” said Mehta.
Some salient features
Mumbai Coastal Road Project — Rs 1,000 cr
Goregaon Mulund Link Road — Rs 130 cr
Roads and traffic department — Rs 1,095 cr
New Roads (DP 2034) — Rs 160 cr
Use of paver blocks shall be avoided
Proposed revised policy for removal of bottlenecks for widening of existing roads
Pedestrian-first footpath policy: Safe passage for pedestrians and parking on footpaths to be prohibited
Beautification of central median and traffic islands
International standard street signage system to be installed at 90 locations by March 2018
Energy conservation: conversion of traditional streetlights to LED streetlights
Underground parking slot proposed in Patwardhan Park in Khar (estimated budget, Rs 1 cr)
Other highlights
Rs 4 crore
Beautification of Bandra Fort and Bandra Talao
Rs 1.2 crore
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Rs 1 crore
for underground parking at Patwardhan Garden in Bandra (w) and Madanpura
Rs 1 crore
Working women’s hostel
The BMC has explored alternative revenue sources to generate additional income, such as levying professional tax (which is being levied by the state govt at present) and introducing a surcharge of 1% of the value of immovable property, which will generate revenue of Rs 3,000 crore, and property tax on slums, which will generate revenue of Rs 250 crore.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "pothole")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}