Contractor fined Rs 50 lakh for huge potholes on Mumbai's Santacruz-Chembur Link Road extension

MUMBAI: Two days after this paper published photographs of huge potholes on the BKC-LBS Marg flyover arm which is part of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the contractor J Kumar Infraprojects, along with an additional Rs 10 lakh for each day the flyover arm remains closed for pothole repairs.
The photos published in TOI on Tuesday highlighted the deplorable condition of the flyover arm and underscored the urgent need for repairs and maintenance.
Sources said that MMRDA has not only issued notices to the contractor but has also included the project consultants PADECO in the disciplinary action. Additionally, a show-cause notice has been served to a deputy engineer of MMRDA.
The problematic 1.25 km-long and 8-meter wide ramp was opened to the public on Feb 10, 2023. This is the second instance of MMRDA imposing penalties on J Kumar Infraprojects for issues concerning this particular flyover arm. In 2022, the contractor was fined Rs 1 crore for inadequate safety measures which resulted in the collapse of the under-construction elevated section of the SCLR extension project on Sept 17, 2021. The consultant was also penalized with a fine of Rs 20 lakh for their role in the incident.
An MMRDA official stated, "The total penalty imposed on the contractor and consultant for this arm of the SCLR extension project has now exceeded Rs 1.5 crore."
This is also not the first time J Kumar Infraprojects has faced criticism for pothole-related issues. In July 2023, the MMRDA faced a significant backlash after potholes appeared on the 3.8 km east-west elevated stretch of the SCLR extension, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just two months earlier in April.
The contractor has also been casual in executing the under-construction SCLR extension project, which has been opened in phases, officials stated. The work order for the project was issued in 2016 with the target of completing the entire corridor by 2019. The original cost of the project was Rs 450 crore, but it has now increased to Rs 650 crore due to various factors, officials said.
Meanwhile, amid heavy rain in the city and suburbs, motorists on Thursday were seen navigating their vehicles through pothole-riddled roads in parts of the city. The BMC said that efforts to fill potholes were on and action was being initiated proactively and on receiving complaints as well. The civic body has asked 227 sub-engineers to tackle pothole-related complaints across city wards. Over the last fortnight, 13 sub-engineers have been given showcause notices for not paying attention to potholes. For monsoons this year, the BMC has proposed to give Rs 1 crore to each of the 24 administrative wards for filling of potholes on roads that are below nine metres in width, while the central agency is allocated Rs 2 crore for filling potholes on roads which are above six metres.