Oh crap! Cow dung creates craters on tar road laid a week ago

Nagpur: The quality of road works done by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has plunged to a new low. Now, they no longer need heavy rains to develop potholes because it seems even cow dung is enough to damage them.
A road in Ayodhya Nagar under NMC Hanuman Nagar Zone is the best example. The NMC through contractor Amruta Constructions had asphalted three internal roads of length around 300 metres at Ayodhya Nagar at the cost of Rs20 lakh a week ago.
Couple of days back, cattle came on the roads and dumped at several spots. The road’s surface has scaled at spots where the cow dung was dumped. It has become a topic of discussion in the area.
After TOI pointed it out, officials of NMC Hanuman Nagar Zone including assistant commissioner Raju Bhivgade inspected the road and confirmed potholes have developed on spots wherever the cattle had left the dump.
“I am surprised to see the newly asphalted patches damaged due to cow dung. Engineers from NMC public works department (PWD) will be able to comment why this happened. Other parts of the road is in good condition,” Bhivgade said.
NMC chief engineer Ulhas Debadwar said it clearly proves that the quality of asphalting was not good. “We will inspect and initiate appropriate action,” he said.
Inferior quality of tar road are damaged due to rains or heavy traffic. There is not much water content in cow dung, still the road in Ayodhya Nagar was damaged. This indicates that the road will be damaged totally in case of rain.
TOI has many a time reported about inferior quality of works in tar as well as cement concrete roads. Even, asphalting done by NMC Hotmix Department can’t hold on for weeks though the defect liability period is of three years.
TOI had reported about damage to patches asphalted on road at Sonegaon lake within a week due to mild rain in the beginning of January. The department again asphalted the same patches couple of days ago, thus wasting public money.
RTI activist TH Naidu said the cost should be recovered from NMC engineers and contractor. “Engineers are never present when roads are asphalted by contractors. Engineers clear bills sitting in offices. I can name many roads asphalted within one year though their defect liability period was three years. Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe should appoint engineering colleges as third-party agency to inspect roads. Bills should be cleared only after satisfactory report,” he said.