No quick fix for potholes, admits CM

Expressing helplessness over its inability to find an immediate fix for the potholes in the city, the state government on Saturday directed the BMC and other government agencies to chalk out long-term plans for better roads.

The agencies have also been asked to make it compulsory for contractors to set up laboratories to check the material used for road construction, so that they can be made more accountable.

“This would enable the engineers and officers from various agencies to keep a check on the contractors,” chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said after holding a meeting with officials of the BMC, MMRDA, and MSRDC as well as experts from IIT. Chavan has directed the agencies to follow the standards set by the Indian Road Congress and take strict action against the contractors responsible for potholes on the roads before their Defect Liability Period.

The BMC has also been directed to appoint dedicated employees and engineers in the road development departments for improved results. “The BMC transfers its technical employees from department to department and due to this no expertise is created,” the CM said. He said that preventive maintenance measures would be an important part of the long-term plan for improving the condition of city roads.

As for immediate measures, the agencies have been asked to repair the roads between 12 and 4pm.