The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began a road concretisation project a year ago but has completed only 46 km out of the planned 324 km in Phase 1. A total of 298 roads in this phase are yet to be concretised. Construction is ongoing on 213 roads in Phase 1.
In Phase 2, 1,420 roads are planned for concretisation. Of these, 433 roads are currently under construction. Work on the remaining roads in this phase has not yet started.
The delays have received criticism from the public. A Twitter user noted the condition of 14th Road Khar West for the last 9-10 months. The user noted that part of the road was done before central elections and never touched after that.
Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF) has also raised concerns about the quality of work. The organisation reported that two roads were concretised, but the area that connects them was never completed. Moreover, footpaths were left halfway with construction material dumped on them.
Netizens also claimed that the same situation can be seen everywhere.
As per reports, cement concrete road construction generally takes 30 to 45 days. This includes excavation, project completion, and traffic resumption.
Here's why it was delayed:
Monsoon disruption
By June 10, the BMC had completed 30 percent of Phase 1 work. However, the monsoon season caused a four-month pause. Construction resumed in the western and eastern suburbs on October 1.
Contractor's failure
Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd. (RSIIL) was awarded the contract in January 2023. However, it failed to start work despite months of delay. The contract was terminated on November 8, 2023. RSIIL was fined INR 64.6 crore for its failure to perform. After the original contractor for the island city failed to start work, the BMC hired a new contractor to handle the concreting of 208 roads.
Model code of conduct
Delays in Phase 2 were also caused by the model code of conduct for state assembly elections and pending approvals from the traffic police. The BMC has made some progress in Phase 1 after the monsoon by completing the concreting of 187 roads out of the 698 planned. The remaining roads in this phase are expected to be completed by May 31, 2025.
Phase 2 involves concreting 377 km of roads. This includes 68.25 km from Phase 1 and 65 km in South Mumbai. Work has not started on 989 of the 1,420 roads planned under Phase 2.
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