As motorists slug it out, DNA grilled T Chandrashekhar, metropolitan commissioner (additional charge), for some answers.
The first rains have overwhelmed the city. Is the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to be blamed for not completing roadwork on time?
As motorists slug it out on both the Eastern and Western express highways, DNA grilled T Chandrashekhar, metropolitan commissioner (additional charge), for some answers. Here is what he had to say on various subjects of his concern:
Not highways to hell
Ninety per cent of work on the Eastern Express Highway is complete. Only the laying of civic pipelines and service roads at a few places is pending. On the Western Express Highway, 75 per cent of drainage work is complete. We have to build retaining walls for the service roads, which are 15 to 20 feet below the main road.
No jam on May 31
It rained 183 mm for three hours on Wednesday. Traffic movement was slow, but there was no flooding as claimed by the media.
Because of the collapse of rail services, there was more traffic on the road. Signal failures added to the woes. Areas prone to water-logging, like the Milan subway, LBS Marg and Saki Naka did get flooded. The capacity of storm water drains is 50 mm per hour. Naturally, it will take some time for the rain water to drain out.We seem to be the favourite whipping boy of the media.
MMRDA not a non-performer
Rehabilitating 40,000 families is no joke. The Mithi clean-up did not take place for 40 years. People constantly compare my work (as MMRDA chief) with my work in Nagpur and Thane.
First, it does not rain so heavily in those two cities. Second, as the cities are circular, work on certain roads can be completely stopped. But Mumbai is linear.
Here, we have to work in limited hours taking into consideration the traffic flow. I assure you that by December all roadwork undertaken by the MMRDA will be completed.
Old norms must go
According to the government’s rules for selecting tenders, we have to award contract to the lowest bidder.
Obviously, the best cannot come cheap. Many big companies with a good body of work apply, but our rules are such that we cannot pick and choose. These old norms have to change. We need more staff, but competent ones rather than just numbers.
){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}