Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the effectiveness of the new cold mix asphalt used to fill potholes on the city’s roads can be determined only after the end of the monsoon.
Mr. Fadnavis was replying to queries raised during the Question Hour in the Assembly. He said, “The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has tested the cold mix which has been used to fill potholes this monsoon. Earlier, the BMC had to purchase the mix at ₹117 per kg, but it now prepares the mix at ₹30 per kg at its own plant in Worli.”
Mr. Fadnavis said the results were positive when the mix was tested in a few areas last year. “This year, we will have to wait till the end of the monsoon to check the effectiveness of the mix,” he said. Mr. Fadnavis presented data on potholes in the city and claimed its numbers had reduced over the years.
Naseem Khan, Congress MLA from Chandivali, said, “Every year, the BMC spends over ₹1,200 crore on road construction. Yet, there are potholes everywhere. No action has been taken against errant contractors.”
Mr. Fadnavis said of the tenders worth ₹90 crore issued for road resurfacing, only ₹9.30 crore was meant for filling potholes. He said, “The contractors are bound by defects liability period. If potholes surface during this period, the contractor has to bear the expenses for filling them. Of the 1,290 km of tar roads under the BMC, only 605 km come under this clause.”
BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar asked why ducting was not made mandatory for construction of roads. Mr. Sagar said, “The civic body has to collaborate with technically superior institutions to find permanent solutions and introduce design changes.”
Mr. Fadnavis said an order has been issued to make ducting mandatory in as many roadwork sites as possible.