BMC struggles to finish repair work of bridges

The major concern of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) prior to the monsoons is to avoid the recurrence of potholes on important bridges across the city. BMC has to complete the resurfacing work of all the bridges by May 30, before the onset of monsoon.

But the Lalbaug Flyover and Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) will undergo repair work to prevent potholes even after monsoons. S Kori, chief engineer (bridges) of BMC, said, “We will complete the initial work on these two bridges before June and will maintain it during the monsoon. But these two are huge bridges so we will continue the repairs work even after monsoons. We have very less time in our hands to carry out and complete the pre-monsoon work.”

This time the BMC is using the hot mix technology to

resurface the bridges instead of the standard cold mix technology. The cold mix technology though a quick method has led to recurrence of potholes in the past due to its lack of efficiency. The hot mix technology which includes usage of the construction substance bitumen is a process that takes time but may help prevent the repetition of damage.

BMC has till date completed resurfacing of four bridges namely S bridge at Byculla, Diana bridge at Mumbai Central, Sion Hospital Foot overbridge and Vijay Nagar bridge at Andheri (east). “We have completed the entire resurfacing work of these bridges so that no potholes will appear in this monsoon,” Kori added.

Work of Currey Road bridge, Hindmata bridge at Dadar (east), Chinchpokli bridge and Nanalal D Mehta bridge at Matunga is still going on. The delay in getting quarries or raw materials for the repair work is the reason given by the BMC for this work to be still in process. Both the roads and bridges department of the civic body has blamed the closure of the Thane stone quarries, which was the primary source of material for road repairs and construction work, for the delay in pre-monsoon work.