BMC: Utility companies to blame for bad roads

The BMC, after dodging allegations of pathetic conditions of roads and potholes, has now alleged that as many as 32 utility companies are the reason why Mumbai has bad roads. According to the civic body, these companies — responsible for city's cooking gas supply, electricity and telephone and internet connections — constantly keep digging roads to lay cables but do not fill them up on time. Ironically, the agencies supplying electricity and water are part of the BMC. The BMC had received more than 27,000 applications from different agencies wanting to lay utility cables last year. These were mostly in Bandra, Andheri, Goregaon, Borivli, Mankhurd, Prabhadevi, Parel and Kurla. This is why, the BMC thinks, around 25 per cent of roads in the city are in an abysmal state. Civic officials said this constant digging and entrenchment is one of the top reasons for waterlogging and potholes. “Resurfacing a road after a utility cable is laid is not the same as when the original road was made. The quality of work is not the same,” said an official from the roads department. Depending on the type of road, the BMC charges these agencies amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 per metre. “Despite being charged such hefty fees, some firms do not show responsibility while filling the dug-up roads. Sometimes, they don't cover it up for days," the official said. Many residents and commuters do feel the civic body has some truth when blaming the utility firms. Ajay Karia, a regular commuter from Parel area, said he has often noticed roads dug up to lay cables. "It gives the BMC an opportunity to get new contracts to resurface the roads and extract more money," said a city activist.