The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : MCH to recarpet several roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

MCH to recarpet several roads

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 23. Roads in the city are to get a fresh carpet at last, with the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) issuing orders to its engineering staff and contractors to commence road repair works and complete them in two months time.

Roads are to be surfaced with bitumen mostly and with cement in some areas at a cost of Rs. 45 crores. The road-laying project consists of more than 100 stretches and is based on proposals sent by corporators and other elected representatives. Funds are being drawn from both corporators' budget and the general budget, according to the MCH Additional Commissioner (Works), Harshvardhan.

The decision should come as a relief to citizens as it has been almost a year since the corporation took up road carpeting. Election code during the general elections followed by by-elections to the Assembly and later the General Council of the civic body have been touted as reasons for the hold- up in taking up the work.

Stress on quality

In the meantime, roads got ravaged with rain and digging after permission was given to various Government and private bodies. Efforts are now on to cut red tape to ensure that works proceed speedily and also qualitatively while following statutory provisions.

Having realised that an undue amount of time is being wasted from the time the work gets cleared and funds are sanctioned, the Additional Commissioner is considering allowing the identified contractor get the minutes of the tender committee meetings so that he could straightaway start the work after signing the agreement that lists the stipulated conditions.

Otherwise, engineers are finding it tough to locate the selected contractor after he gets the work order. He then has to be given the permission letter followed by the signing of the agreement.

Yet, it is quite difficult to take up more than two works in a particular division because the modalities involved in supervision and quality control assessment, says Mr. Harshvardhan.

This time, more attention is being paid to pave the link and interior roads that connect to the main road.

Corporation officials also point out that most of the main roads are in the control of the Roads and Buildings Department or the Cantonment Board and they have little say in their maintenance though potholes repair is being taken up.

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