Civic body chief Subodh Kumar insists on asphalt and concrete roads to prevent cave-ins and ensure good condition for longer time.
Mumbaikars can expect a smoother ride on city roads soon as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now decided to reduce the use of interlocking paver blocks for building of roads.
BMC chief Subodh Kumar directed all the officials and insisted for asphalt and concrete roads. This will help prevent cave-ins and also ensure that the roads stay in good condition for long.
In the last few years, there was rampant use of paver blocks everywhere including footpaths and roads, which made the roads ugly after some days.
The interlocking paver blocks come out and as one block came out, the whole row of the blocks become uneven and make the ride bumpy for motorists.
Subodhkumar clearly instructed all the concerned officials of the BMC including the road department not to use the paver blocks on roads indiscriminately.
“Paver blocks should be used only at junctions and not every where,” said the commissioner. “The road should be made of asphalt. If such roads are maintained well Mumbaikars would have a smooth ride,” he remarked.
The use of paver blocks on Mumbai roads has been debated time to time, the statutory technical advisory committee (STAC) — lashed out at the corporation for the way the blocks were laid down.
Paver blocks can be used at junctions where friction on the road is much higher as vehicles pass with high speed and negotiate turns.
Sometimes, the vehicles put a brake suddenly at the junctions which also creates high friction. At these places paver blocks can be used. The STAC committee has already objected over the use of paver blocks.
“All these years, there was no quality check for paver blocks before they were laid down. And, once it is laid on a road, it is very difficult to judge whether the thickness has been maintained and the quality is good. This resulted in roads getting out of shape soon,” said an official.
“This year the BMC has allocated Rs549 crore for upgradation of roads. Work will start from October 1 and end by May 1, 2012. The major roads will be done with concrete and asphalt,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner.
Bhalchandra Shirsat, improvement committee chairman was against these paver blocks. He wrote various letters to the civic chief in 2008 not to use paver blocks on all roads, but to no avail.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}