Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said construction of concrete roads in Mumbai may soon turn the financial capital of India into another Joshimath.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said Mumbai does not require concrete roads. (File photo: PTI)
By Mustafa Shaikh: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray came down heavily on the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government’s decision to concretise 400km roads in Mumbai, stating that concrete roads do not absorb water and the construction of such roads may soon turn the financial capital of India into another Joshimath.
Also Read | The curse of Joshimath
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A number of houses have been rendered ‘unsafe’ for habitation and several other public facilities are also on the verge of collapse as cracks have developed in most of these structures as a result of a geological phenomenon called land subsidence – gradual settling or sinking of the surface due to erosion of water and other resources from the ground. Moreover, over-concretisation has made matters worse for the holy town. Demolition work has already started on several structures and residents have been moved to safety, even as government agencies such as the Central Building Research Institute are struggle to find ways to prevent Joshimath from collapsing all together.
Also Read | Might face same fate as Joshimath: Himachal CM Sukhu urges Centre to increase disaster fund
“No city in the world is entirely covered with concrete roads. Concrete roads don’t absorb rainwater. If there is a flood in Mumbai, who will be responsible for it? If a situation like Joshimath arises in Mumbai tomorrow, who will be responsible?” asked Aaditya Thackeray.
“Mumbai does not require concrete roads. Peddar road and Marine Drive are asphalt roads…I appeal to politicians across the party lines to call out this scam. Otherwise, Mumbai will have to pay the price for it,” said the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA.
Also Read | Once all Mumbai roads are handed over to BMC, there won’t be any potholes, Municipal Commissioner tells HC
Opposing the concretisation of the 400km roads in Mumbai, Aditya Thackeray said the state government is out to loot the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “At a time when there are no public representatives, how can the civic body float tenders worth Rs 6,000 crores?” asked Thackeray.
Earlier, Aditya Thackeray claimed that the tenders for concretisation of roads in Mumbai were floated at a higher price for the benefit of contractors. The municipal corporation rubbished the claims, stating that the cost of construction materials had increased and hence, companies were not willing to work at the rates at which the tender was issued.
Aaditya Thackeray has now posed a series of questions to the Shinde government regarding the concretisation of roads in Mumbai.
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Who first proposed 400km roads to the Municipal Corporation? “It cannot be possible that in a democratic country, the municipal commissioner proposed the construction of 400km of roads in the city and he only approved it,” said Thackeray.
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Where will the funding come from? Will the project not affect the finances of the municipality? Thackeray said funds are allocated for everything in the budget and asked if funds have been diverted from some other scheme to meet the expenditure for the construction of the roads.
Earlier, Aadtiya Thackeray claimed that when a tender of Rs 5,000 crore was floated in August 2022, no one responded to it. In November-December last year, the civic body changed the schedule of rates and the tender for the construction of roads now increased to Rs 6,000.
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Has the municipal corporation given a timeline for the completion of the construction of 400km roads? How much time will the project take and whether permission has been taken from the traffic police or not?
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Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the cost of constructing roads has significantly increased. Earlier, it used to cost Rs 10 crores to build a 1km road. However, now that cost has increased to 17 crores. Why did the municipal corporation not discuss the road construction project with them?
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The Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA further said the municipal corporation changed the Schedule of Requirement (SOR) when no contractor placed bids for the Rs 5,000 crore tender in August 2022. “Does this mean that the municipality will now change the SOR to suit to the needs of the contractors?” he asked.
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What is the experience of the five contractors who have been awarded the contract for the construction of concrete roads in Mumbai? Aaditya Thackeray alleged these contractors have worked on national highways and greenfield airports. “It’s a complex task to make roads in Mumbai,” he said.
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Source: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbmRpYXRvZGF5LmluL2luZGlhL3N0b3J5L2FhZGl0eWEtdGhhY2tlcmF5LXNsYW1zLW1haGFyYXNodHJhLWNtLXNoaW5kZS1zYXlzLW11bWJhaS13aWxsLXNvb24tYmVjb21lLWpvc2hpbWF0aC0yMzIyMzM2LTIwMjMtMDEtMTbSAZEBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kaWF0b2RheS5pbi9hbXAvaW5kaWEvc3RvcnkvYWFkaXR5YS10aGFja2VyYXktc2xhbXMtbWFoYXJhc2h0cmEtY20tc2hpbmRlLXNheXMtbXVtYmFpLXdpbGwtc29vbi1iZWNvbWUtam9zaGltYXRoLTIzMjIzMzYtMjAyMy0wMS0xNg?oc=5
