To expose the haphazardness of the contractors, poor quality of work and improper planning of the utilities while carrying out the road concretisation works, the Mumbai Congress has launched a campaign 'Corruption Mere Gully Mein' where a citizens' audit is been carried out. Under the campaign three roads are audited since last week, namely a stretch of SV Road in Kandivali, IC Colony Road No 4 and road Mithaghar, Dahisar West.
The audit is currently undertaken in the western suburbs, where former corporator Sheetal Mhatre is at the forefront. Mhatre said, "I have sent several letters to the BMC Commissioner and sought appointments to explain the ground realities. The contractors are least concerned on following SOPs like putting barricading for public safety, improper curing, drains work are neglected, wrong placement of utilities and many more. This needs to be exposed."
Mhatre also said that in the audit she conducted in Mithaghar, she found that width of the footpaths are reduced, unnecessary trenches are dug up causing safety risks to pedestrian and motorists, and there is no barricading. "These are blatant violations of norms, road engineering principles and basic common sense," she said.
Mumbai Congress President and MP Varsha Gaikwad posted on X saying, "The Mumbai road concretisation scam is the biggest in the city's history. While alert citizens of IC Colony, along with Mhatre, have now forced BMC and its contractor to rectify defects, it’s time we have a citywide movement to hold this government, BM, and their contractor friends accountable. Mumbaikars are suffering. Taxpayers are being looted. This mess needs to be fixed."
Appealing the citizens to join the movement, Gaikwad write on X, "Send photos/videos to @INCMumbai or tag me. We will amplify your voice and fight for your concerns."
The BMC is currently working on the concretisation of 1,173 roads spanning 433 kilometers, with 260 roads completed in Phase 1 and 496 under construction in Phase 2. The civic body aims to complete 324 kilometers of road concretisation in Phase 1 before the monsoon. However, concerns have been raised by citizens regarding the quality of the work.
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