The BMC affidavit says action had been taken against 122 errant contractors and a fine of Rs1.23 crore was imposed.
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court informing that it has filled up all potholes on city roads.
The affidavit, which was filed on Monday, said action had been taken against 122 errant contractors and a hefty fine of Rs1.23 crore was imposed.
Besides, it said, a US firm - M/S. Sheldia & Associates- had been appointed for Rs 2 crore by the civic body and Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) with World Bank assistance to better road conditions. Explaining its position, the civic body said it would take at least five years to replace the city’s 1,900-km-long road surface.
In the affidavit, it admitted that it was responsible for the pot holes on roads. Out of the city roads, 16 roads had been handed over to MMRDA. So it was not responsible for that road’s maintenance, it said.
The civic body had levied Rs1.23 crore from 122 contractors and 16 of them were given show cause notices for shoddy work. A contractor was debarred.
At least 11 contract registrations were suspended, seven registrations were cancelled, action proposed against five and three contractors were placed under suspension.
The road works, it said, were divided into central agency and ward agency.
A contractor from each ward was penalised. There were 24 wards and the total fine collected from wards was Rs28.71 lakh. The highest penalty was levied from E ward, where Mehta enterprises paid Rs4.25 lakh, the affidavit said.
In central agency, the BMC collected Rs29.93 lakh from 32 contractors, in which R P Shah paid Rs4.93 lakh, the affidavit said. In western suburbs, the BMC fined 39 contractors Rs30.18 lakh.
The maximum amount – Rs4.12 lakh- was paid by Jain construction, and the company’s registration was suspended. In eastern suburbs, 27 contractors paid Rs34.21 lakh. Priti Constructions paid the highest fine of Rs4.43 lakh. The civic body also debarred Nirmal Projects from taking up any work.
The BMC said road conditions were worsened due to various reasons. It also said though the potholes had been filled, other repair works would go on till the end of the season. The Bombay High Court had earlier given a week extra after the first deadline got over on August 31 for filling up potholes.
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