Road scam effect: Contractors to pay double penalty for shoddy work

MUMBAI: The civic body doubled the penalty to be levied on contractors for substandard work, to make the process fool-proof in the wake of the recent road scam.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with its revised tender conditions, made it compulsory for the contractor to ensure the thickness of the road – all five layers -- is as per the specified standard. In case of deficiency or deviation, the contractor will not be paid for the work and will have to pay a penalty of the same amount, according to the revised norms.

While conducting investigation into the road scam, the BMC found layers of roads were

either missing or not as per the specifications.

Sanjay Darade, chief engineer of road department, said, “We have introduced the revised clause recently in a few road

repair contracts. It will give powers to road engineers to tighten the noose on contractors who reconstruct or repair the roads shoddily, thus wasting public money.”

He said, “We have discussed the clause with the standing technical advisory committee, which has agreed to the revision. We will now make it compulsory in all road repair and reconstruction tenders. The new road repair works beginning in October will have the clause.”

The amount of fine will be decided based on the cost of the tender.

The recent probe of 34 roads across the city revealed massive irregularities in repair and reconstruction. The report pointed out several layers of roads were missing. The irregularities cost a Rs14-crore loss.

Till now, 25 people, including 2 chief engineers, and director of contractor firm Relcon Infraprojects, have been arrested in the road repair scam.