13 contractors fined Rs5 lakh after potholes form on new roads

Mumbai : The civic body has penalised 13 contractors, who had recently constructed 30 cement concrete (CC) roads, which have developed potholes. Rs5 lakh has been collected as fine. Of the 13 contractors penalised, five were recently shortlisted by the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) for Rs5,550 crore road projects. These are: RP Shah Infra projects, Shantinath Roadways, Mahavir Roads and Infra Pvt. Ltd., and Prakash Engineering and Relcon Infra Pvt. Ltd.

Apart from these, the BMC has penalised Unity Infra Project Ltd., New India Roadways, Supreme Infrastructure (I) Ltd., Priti Const. And Tirupati (joint venture), Shantinath and New India (JV), Maheshkumar and Roadways and Shantinath Roadways (JV), Vitrag Const. Co. and Sheth Co. (JV), J Kumar Infra Pvt. Ltd., and PBA Infra Ltd.

Cement concrete roads are considered to be stronger and long lasting. Yet, the 30 roads were recently built and were still under the defect liability period (DLP). If a road is under the DLP - which is between three and five years after construction – when the responsibility of the road condition lies with the contractor and cost of any repair work has to be borne by him.