As post-monsoon road construction continues in Mumbai, the BMC has enlisted the help of a third-party quality control agency, IIT-Bombay, which would be involved in the entire process, from material testing to surprise inspections. Bhushan Gagrani, BMC’s commissioner and administrator, gave the decision to involve the renowned educational institute.
IIT’s engagement is intended to uphold high standards and guarantee that all procedures follow defined criteria. The institute has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the BMC.
As part of a significant drive to upgrade the city’s road network, the BMC has approved the construction of 701 kilometres of road—392 km in Phase 1 and 309 in Phase 2. IIT-Bombay’s quality inspections will include five packages in Phase 2 (one in each of the city and eastern divisions, three in the western division), as well as one package in Phase 1.
On September 30, 2024, Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (Projects), presided over an important meeting at the BMC headquarters. During the meeting, IIT-Bombay authorities provided a Standard Operating Procedure to ensure quality control throughout the project.
Professor KVK Rao of IIT-Bombay will conduct the quality control procedure. The institute’s responsibilities include conducting various tests at factories and work sites; ensuring proper logistical support for scheduled site visits; conducting quality assurance tests such as cube tests, core tests, slump cone tests, durability tests, and field density tests; providing guidance to avoid deliberate or accidental quality compromises; and advising on best practices for road maintenance, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.
The IIT-Bombay team will coordinate closely with the BMC’s engineering department, sharing observations and feedback in real time. The comprehensive testing regimen will begin at the primary stage of material preparation and will continue with frequent site visits and an overseeing of the entire process till the roads are completed. Bangar said that IIT-B’s involvement would help prevent errors and the use of substandard materials in road construction.
