BMC engineers fail to use road repair funds

Despite replacing the road works contract (RWC) system with the road maintenance management system (RMMS) last year, BMC sub-engineers are yet to use Rs 20 crore allotted for maintenance of city roads.

In the new system, BMC allotted Rs 20 lakh to each sub-engineer for repair of footpaths, dividers and roads. While road contractors were appointed in July 2012, over 100 sub-engineers were made part of RMMS to carry out repairs.

That the funds have not been used was revealed after members — Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Korgaonkar, Manoj Kotak of BJP and Chetan Kadam of MNS — complained of poor maintenance of roads at a BMC standing committee meeting Wednesday.

Earlier, most repairs were carried out on the request of corporators. Despite repeated recommendations by the standing technical advisory committee, BMC did not develop a system of keeping a record of repairs carried out.

"The procedure to cancel the old road works contact system has taken time, which is why even till December engineers have not been able to use funds. We are discussing the problem with additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta," said standing committee chairperson Rahul Shewale.

Manoj Kotak alleged the delay in awarding contracts was because BMC did not have money.

"The corporation has been projecting false budget figures to the committee and public. It is February and still no work has been taken up. The budget utilisation that will take place till the end of the financial year can't be more than 35 per cent. The administration has been dillydallying because it has no funds," he said.

In 2012, the civic administration divided the 1,941-km city roads into stretches of 15-20 km and assigned maintenance to sub-engineers .

RMMS is a software designed by Frischmann Prabhu (India) Private Limited. Wth its help BMC will be able to display a list of stretches and engineers responsible for their repairs. Contact details of the engineers will also be available to citizens.

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