Most roads dug by utility agencies, not BMC

Digging of roads or footpaths causes a great deal of inconvenience, but it’s not the BMC which is always responsible for it. More often than not, various utility agencies dig up roads to carry out repair work.

There are 37 utilities under the roads and footpaths. To repair these utilities, the agencies dig up the roads with the BMC permission. “About 66% of the digging work is undertaken by these utility agencies,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner.

“Only three major utilities belong to the BMC: water, storm water drain and sewage line. The lines are deep and we don’t need to dig up the roads frequently to repair them,” he added.

Now, the BMC has planned to club all the underground utilities together and place them in ducts so that every time these utilities need to be changed or upgraded, there is no need to dig up the entire road.

“The BMC has also sanctioned Rs500 crore for upgradation of the roads in the city. About Rs300 crore will be used for cement concrete road, Rs150 crore will be for asphalt road and Rs50 crore will be for minor repairs,” he said.

An official from the BMC’s account department said: “Last year, the BMC spent Rs750 crore for the roads and this year, it has earmarked Rs750 crore in its annual budget for road building,” said.

This monsoon, Rs40 crore was set aside for pothole repairs. The pothole budget was further increased by Rs20 crore.