Mumbai: In a bid to ensure smooth traffic movement and road safety during the monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will spend over Rs 50.86 crore on the maintenance of service roads along the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Western Express Highway (WEH). The civic body has floated four tenders to appoint agencies for this work, which will be carried out over a six-month period starting this monsoon.
The service roads, which are 12-metre wide lanes running parallel to the main expressways, are crucial for providing local access to commuters. However, these roads often suffer from poor conditions during the rainy season, developing large potholes and uneven surfaces that pose risks to motorists.
Tenders Floated For Maintenance Of Service Roads On EEH & WEH
According to BMC officials, two separate tenders of Rs 12.50 crore each have been issued for EEH service roads, while two additional tenders worth Rs 12.93 crore each have been floated for those along the WEH. The appointed contractors will be responsible for continuous maintenance, including filling potholes, resurfacing damaged patches and reinstating trenches using materials like mastic and asphalt.
“These service roads are not covered under the contracts awarded for the main carriageways of the highways,” said a senior BMC official, as quoted by the Indian Express. “Local ward offices try to patch up these roads during monsoons, but the need for a structured and timely maintenance approach led us to float dedicated tenders,” the official added.
The highways, which serve as Mumbai’s primary north-south road corridors and are vital entry and exit points for the city, witness constant movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks and intercity buses. Their service roads, being aged and asphalt-based, are especially vulnerable to damage during the monsoon. Since they are not covered under the defect liability clause, the BMC has taken proactive steps to prevent traffic disruptions.
Seperate Tender For Special Pothole Filling
Meanwhile, separate tenders amounting to Rs 34 crore have also been floated for pothole filling between Bandra and Dahisar in the western suburbs.
BMC's Road Concretisation Plan
The maintenance efforts are part of the broader road infrastructure initiative currently underway in Mumbai. About 450 km of roads are being dug up for concretisation work across the city. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has assured that these works will be completed by May 31. Once done, officials say the risk of potholes will reduce majorly, offering commuters smoother and safer travel during the rains.
