BMC Allocates INR 275 Crore For Pothole Repairs Across Mumbai

After granting contracts to concrete nearly 1,000 kilometers of roads in the previous two years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set aside approximately INR 275 crore to fix potholes this year. Last year, the corporation fixed nearly 70,000 potholes for a total of INR 400 crore. In addition to investing INR 2,000 to INR 2,500 crore on road construction, the civic body spends INR 150 to INR 200 crore on pothole repairs each year. In recent years, the expense of fixing potholes has been increasing.

Mumbai’s road network spans 2,050 km. Out of this, 990 km was already concreted by the authorities in 2022. The BMC had undertaken the job of concreting 210 km roads of the city back in January 2022. It had sanctioned a proposal for concreting another 397 km in February 2023. It cost INR 6,080 crore excluding the GST of 18 per cent.

Soon, the tender process for the remaining 397 km of the city's road will be announced and the cost will go up to INR 6,250 crore approximately. But the civic body has been able to complete less than 20 per cent of concreting work as of May 2024, and that's why the corporation is on high alert this season with regard to potholes.

According to a senior BMC official, the narrow gullies up to 9m wide are with 24 wards, while the big roads above 9m are with the central ward department. The BMC has hired two contractors in each of the seven zones, with an allocation of INR 8 to INR 12 crore per ward. This allocation ratio also depends on the size of the ward, for fixing potholes on major roads. Furthermore, the wards are given between INR 1 and INR 2 crore to fix potholes on little routes. 

To make sure the damaged road portions are ready for the monsoon, the BMC has already invested almost INR 100 crore in resurfacing them before the rainy season. Furthermore, 600 km of concreted roads have contracts from the BMC.

For a minimum of five years (the Defect Liability Period), contractors are accountable for the roads that are either under construction or completed. Put differently, there are just 400 km of roads left that are not being built or concreted, and the BMC is in charge of maintaining them.

According to information provided by the BMC, 52,000 potholes had been filled as of mid-August 2023. By October, the number had increased to almost 70,000, and the company had to spend about INR 400 crore on it.