Plans to replace paver blocks with concrete at 23 major junctions on SV Road in Western suburbs, yet to receive funds to start tendering process
Repeated complaints about waterlogging during the monsoon season that prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to decide to concretise 23 main junctions in western suburbs, especially those on the Swami Vivekananda (SV) road between Bandra and Dahisar, is awaiting the final nod from the concerned internal departments.
Sinking feeling: Junctions with paver blocks have proven to be problem areas during the monsoon due to waterlogging. Representation pic
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The proposal was passed last month and once the funds are released, a tender will be announced.
The plan is to replace the paver blocks at these locations with concrete and the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 100 crore. While officials of the BMC claim that the work can be completed within six months and well before the onset of next year’s monsoon, sources in the civic body say this is unlikely. The plan is to concretise 23 main junctions between Bandra and Dahisar and two to three junctions at each of the nine wards falling in the western suburbs.
This stretch has the main water pipelines, sewerage lines, gas pipelines and telephone lines passing through it.
Civic body officials fear the work will create traffic-related problems, as the traffic signals at these junctions will have to be shifted temporarily to get the task done.
Deputy Chief Engineer (Roads), G M Agarwal, said, “We will concretise three junctions in the western suburbs, which currently have paver blocks. We have received a major number of complaints regarding these locations during the monsoon. We will be sitting down with our internal departments to discuss temporary changes and how to go about it without inconveniencing residents and motorists to a great extent. The estimated time for completion of work would be approximately six months.”
According to sources at BMC’s Road Department, however, completion of work by next monsoon is not likely, as the procedure of securing permissions from the various departments will take time. A source at the department said on condition of anonymity, “It is difficult to complete the work in the said stipulated time, as getting permission from the traffic department to start work on all 23 junctions at the same time will be a problem.” u00a0
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