BMC road scam: Police likely to arrest 30 more civic officials

Police asked IITB to analyse road samples and help nail errant contractors

MUMBAI: As many as 30 more Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials are likely to be arrested in connection with the multi-crore road repair scam in the next few days. At a hearing of complaints before the lokayukta of Maharashtra, police said they would take action against more officials.

According to sources, the police have prepared list of about 30 officials who are likely to face arrest. So far, the Mumbai police have arrested 26 people, including three senior civic officials.

Right to Information activist Anil Galgali had complained to state lokayukta ML Tahilyani, about the delay in taking action against civic officials. He also complained that new contracts had been awarded to tainted contractors currently under the scanner for their involvement in the scam.

On Friday, the lokayukta expressed satisfaction over the investigation conducted by the Mumbai police.

The police informed the lokayukta of the course of action they will adopt. They said that to make their case against the contractors and officials watertight, they have sought the help of the Indian Institute of Technology-bombay (IIT-B) to test the road samples

taken by the BMC.

The material used for the construction of roads was found to be substandard after the investigation

team formed by the civic body had investigated 34 roads across the city.

Aided by IIT-B, the police want

to get a foolproof analysis of the material so it can be used as evidence against the contractors to nail them. “The lower-level BMC

officials are the ones who monitor the work at the ground level. So action should be taken against them,” said Galgali.