Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 7: With the final phase of road concretisation across Mumbai’s western suburbs nearing completion, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set a target to finish all major works by May 20. Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Sudhakar Shinde Bangar conducted a late-night inspection on Tuesday, directing officials to deploy additional workers and machinery to ensure timely completion.
During his visit, Bangar inspected works at Central Avenue in Santacruz, Model Town Road in Andheri, Marve Road in Malad, Maharashtra Nagar in Borivali, and Samta Nagar in Kandivali. He stressed the importance of using diamond-blade cutting machines both large and small for accurate joint cuts, a critical step in enhancing the durability of concrete roads.
At Marve Road, Bangar noted the use of polysulphide instead of bitumen in expansion joints. Since the material blends seamlessly with concrete and is cost-effective, he ordered a feasibility study to explore its broader application.
Bangar has also set a deadline of May 31 for the completion of drain strengthening at Gautam Buddha Marg, where concrete work is ongoing. The use of early-strength concrete is being considered to save time, pending validation by experts at IIT-Bombay.
In Kandivali, a curing compound was added to Dry Lean Concrete (DLC) to speed up the process, which is also under IIT-B’s review. Additionally, Bangar recommended replacing traditional iron stormwater grates with Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) alternatives to prevent theft, citing expert suggestions on their durability and performance.
At completed sites like Maharashtra Nagar and Samta Nagar, officials have been instructed to expedite final touches, including thermoplastic markings, cat eyes, signage, and safety grids, to open the roads for public use without delay.
The inspection was carried out in the presence of IIT-Bombay professor P Vedagiri, chief engineer Girish Nikam, deputy chief engineer Sanjay Borse, and quality control representatives.