No bitumen import from AP until things improve

The gas leak at LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam may impede ongoing work on the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Project (CRMP) in the city. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been importing bitumen from Andhra Pradesh amidst the lockdown, but, considering the current scenario, the corporation on the advice of the AP government has decided not to import bitumen until the situation improves.

Under CRMP, the civic body was supposed to lay 709 km of roads along with footpaths and lane-marking. The main roads have been divided into eight units for the road building and work has been progressing at a brisk pace. In 20 days, the corporation laid 204.29 km of roads, importing bitumen from a refinery stationed in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), which is within 5 km of the LG plant.

According to highly placed sources in the GHMC, the bitumen stocks will last another five days. Sources said that citing the high number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the government has told the corporation not to import bitumen from refineries in these states. Mohammed Ziauddin, chief engineer, road maintenance, GHMC, however, said that the corporation would only face trouble for a day or two if the bitumen is not transported from HPCL.

He said that in the prevailing situation, the Centre and state guidelines allow bitumen to be transported from Mumbai and Chennai to ensure hassle-free road work.

Mr Ziauddin said that GHMC would import bitumen from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) in Mumbai and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd in Chennai, and at most work will be delayed by a day.

The GHMC has completed 27.33 km of road in LB Nagar zone, 36.71 km in Charminar zone, 24.39 km in Khairatabad-I, 36.15 in Khairatabad-II, 28.14 km in Serilingampally, 20.9 in Kukatpally and 30.67 in Secunderabad zone.