Union Commerce Minister and Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal assessed the status of the ongoing road concretisation projects in the northern suburbs of Mumbai during a lengthy assessment meeting on Saturday.
Speaking to the media post-meeting, Goyal said, “The BMC has assured that work on 212 roads across four civic wards in North Mumbai will be completed by 31 May.”
This marks Goyal’s fourth review meeting with senior officials from the BMC, Collector’s Office, MMRDA, MHADA, SRA, and the police, held at the BMC’s R Central Ward Office in Borivali West. The session focused on key infrastructure projects and civic issues plaguing the region.
Local MLAs voiced dissatisfaction with the pace of roadwork, citing concerns over delays and sub-par quality. Goyal echoed these concerns, urging civic authorities to accelerate construction while maintaining high-quality standards. With the monsoon season fast approaching, he emphasised the need to finish the current phase of work by the end of May to avoid major disruptions for residents and commuters.
Sources reveal that Goyal also flagged misaligned height levels between newly laid cement roads and adjoining footpaths — a potential trigger for monsoon waterlogging.
A top BMC official responded by highlighting the use of artificial intelligence to monitor roads quality and progress in real time. After finding defects during slump test inspections, the BMC has already imposed hefty fines on contractors and ready-mix concrete (RMC) firms to guarantee accountability.
The problem of encroachments along the Dahisar and Poisar rivers was also discussed at the meeting. Hutment inhabitants will be moved to empty housing units that have lately been constructed under various plans, according to the authorities. On both rivers, 25% of the desilting and widening work has been finished thus far.
Source: The Free Press Journal
