BMC plans to draft major infra firms for city road work

To improve the condition of Mumbai roads, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is thinking of appointing major infrastructure companies to do road work. According to civic officials, this move will double the cost since big companies will refuse to work within BMC’s restrictions.

Contracts of 24 wards have been divided between 48 contractors empanelled by the BMC. While contractors have been building major and minor roads for the past many years, the BMC is thinking of awarding contracts of major roads to big infrastructure companies like L&T, HCC, Gammon India, Unity Infrastructure etc. However, this move has irked small contractors who had a syndicate in the BMC.

“The BMC is going to implement the recommendation of the Mirani committee, and hand over the responsibility to large companies,” said Rahul Shevale, standing committee chairman. “The BMC is simply putting some conditions in place, such as the contractor must have its own ready mix plant or the firm should have carried out work of over Rs50 crore,” he added.

Bhalchandra Shirsat, chairman, civic improvements committee, expressed fear that big companies would sublet the contract to small contractors. “The civic chief has to ensure quality,” he said.

“Old contractors are ready to work with the old rate, which is below 15% of the scheduled rate of the BMC. Expenditure could now double up to Rs1,200 crore from Rs549 crore as big companies cannot do the same task at the low rate,” said another senior official from road department.