Mumbai:
You can expect a smoother ride on city roads soon with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) insisting on ISI-approved paver blocks in its road tenders to check the use of sub-standard ones by contractors. This will help prevent cave-ins and also ensure that the roads stay in good shape for longer.
A Ralkar, chief engineer (roads), BMC, said, "This time, we have asked for ISI-approved paver blocks in the tenders. This is to ensure that sub-standard paver blocks are not used."
The use of paver blocks on Mumbai roads has been debated time and again with the state government-appointed expert committee -- Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) -- lashing out at the corporation for the way the blocks were laid down.
"All these years, there was no quality check for the paver blocks before they were laid down. And, once the road is laid, it is very difficult to judge if the thickness has been maintained and the quality is good. This resulted in roads getting out of shape in a short span. ISI-approved paver blocks will ensure this is not repeated. Due to the good quality of paver blocks used, the Mount Mary road at Bandra has been in good shape for so long," said a senior official from the road department.
Welcoming the decision, Dr Sunil Bose, a member of the STAC and head, flexible pavement division of Central Road Research Institute, said, "This is a good move. Contractors do not follow the prescribed method for laying paver blocks and hence the work is shoddy. This makes commuting on roads difficult. The contractors will now be legally bound to use a quality product and small-time manufacturers, who generally don't fulfil the requirements for a quality paver block, will stay away."
"Over the past few months, we've seen several incidents where these paver blocks have been dislodged and roads have developed craters. In many instances, the paver blocks were laid in a hurry in violation of the STAC guidelines," he said.
A Ralkar, chief engineer (roads), BMC, said, "This time, we have asked for ISI-approved paver blocks in the tenders. This is to ensure that sub-standard paver blocks are not used."
The use of paver blocks on Mumbai roads has been debated time and again with the state government-appointed expert committee -- Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) -- lashing out at the corporation for the way the blocks were laid down.
"All these years, there was no quality check for the paver blocks before they were laid down. And, once the road is laid, it is very difficult to judge if the thickness has been maintained and the quality is good. This resulted in roads getting out of shape in a short span. ISI-approved paver blocks will ensure this is not repeated. Due to the good quality of paver blocks used, the Mount Mary road at Bandra has been in good shape for so long," said a senior official from the road department.
Welcoming the decision, Dr Sunil Bose, a member of the STAC and head, flexible pavement division of Central Road Research Institute, said, "This is a good move. Contractors do not follow the prescribed method for laying paver blocks and hence the work is shoddy. This makes commuting on roads difficult. The contractors will now be legally bound to use a quality product and small-time manufacturers, who generally don't fulfil the requirements for a quality paver block, will stay away."
"Over the past few months, we've seen several incidents where these paver blocks have been dislodged and roads have developed craters. In many instances, the paver blocks were laid in a hurry in violation of the STAC guidelines," he said.
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