BMC wants digging of roads to end by May 31……..Sukhada Tatke
MUMBAI: Motorists and pedestrians fed up of constant digging of roads because of the major ongoing infrastructure projects can heave a sigh of relief. In view of the impending monsoon, the BMC has asked MMRDA and MSRDC to bring all excavation, digging and trenching work to a halt by May 31.
“We have told the agencies to bring their work on projects like Metro, Monorail and skywalks to a safe stage. Even if their work continues, they have to ensure that there is no flooding, and their work causes no problems during the monsoon,” said mayor S Jadhav. The decision was taken at a meeting held between officials on Tuesday to review road work.
According to MMRDA officials, work on 35 skywalks is currently on across the city while flyover work is on at Burfi Wala Lane in Andheri, King’s Circle, Lalbaug and Suman Nagar. “Duplication work on Malad flyover and work on the Eastern Freeway between Colaba and Wadala are also underway,” an official said.
Work on the Jacob Circle-Chembur monorail project is being carried out on a 20-km stretch, which is dug up at most places, while the Metro work is on along the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route of about 12 km.
Last year, the BMC gave permission for the excavation (digging and trenching) of 530 km of roads. The figure was 25% more than that in the previous year. Earlier, the BMC had set April 15 as the deadline for digging of roads. However, it was extended considering the “importance and gravity of the projects” the agencies have undertaken.