Mumbai, October 1, 2024
RTI activist Anil Galgali has raised concerns about a Rs 1600 crore tender for concreting service roads in Mumbai. He argues that service roads, which are not used by heavy vehicles, do not require expensive concreting work. Instead, he suggests that proper asphalting and regular maintenance would be more practical and cost-effective.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Galgali called for the cancellation of the tender, which was announced on September 23. The tender includes a 24-month contract (excluding monsoon seasons) for concreting service roads, slip roads, and junctions along the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Western Express Highway (WEH). It also covers civil works, stormwater drains, footpaths, and culverts.
Galgali points out that trenches are often dug for various services, and the current system of using ward-level engineers is sufficient for handling these situations. He believes that concreting will make future maintenance more difficult, especially when roads need to be dug up, which could compromise the overall quality.
By canceling the tender, Galgali suggests the government should focus on maintaining service roads with proper asphalting, which would be more sustainable and less costly in the long run.
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