BMC floats tenders worth Rs 129 crore for micro-surfacing of express highways
According to civic authorities, a total stretch of 15.4km collectively in both the highways will be taken up for resurfacing with work for every single kilometre to cost Rs 8.41 crore.
The announcements, most of which are linked to the regularisation of housing, redevelopment, and civic infrastructure, were made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde (Image modified using AI for better resolution)
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday floated two separate tenders amounting to Rs 129 crore for carrying out improvement work on the Western Express Highway (WEH) and Eastern Express Highway (EEH) by a unique civil engineering technique called microsurfacing.
According to civic authorities, a total stretch of 15.4km collectively in both the highways will be taken up for resurfacing with work for every single kilometre to cost Rs 8.41 crore. The move comes a month after BJP MP from Mumbai (North) Piyush Goyal directed the BMC to carry out surfacing work of the roads in Mumbai.
The WEH and EEH are two major arterial roads that traverse through the western and eastern suburbs, providing north-south connectivity. According to the tender document, the BMC will spend Rs 69 crore for carrying out the work in WEH, while Rs 60 crore will be spent for the work in EEH. The WEH is 25.33km long while the EEH is 23.5km long.
A senior civic official privy to the subject told The Indian Express that in EEH, resurfacing work will be carried out over a 7.9km stretch from Kamraj Nagar in Ghatkopar to Amar Mahal in Chembur. Meanwhile, in the WEH, resurfacing work will be carried out over a 7.5km stretch between Oberoi Mall Junction (Goregaon) and Magathane (Borivali).
“Earlier, the WEH and EEH were with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, which the BMC took over in 2023. So far, only 30 per cent of the total stretch of the highways is resurfaced while 70 per cent is still remaining. Therefore, we have taken up micro-surfacing work, covering around 7.5km in each of the two highways and intend to finish it in a year,” said the official.
Micro-surfacing is a road maintenance technique, under which a mixture of polymer modified asphalt emulsion along with water and additives are applied on a wearing out road surface. The procedure is implemented to ensure the shelf life of the road is extended, improving friction by sealing cracks and prevent further deterioration of the surface. The official said every year, the BMC will take up repairs of similar patches of work in the two highways to ensure the roads stay even and smooth.
“Micro-surfacing is a cost-effective measure, which has an average thickness of 8mm, similar to asphalt which has a layered thickness between 25mm and 40mm. We are going to take the work in patches every year because taking up the entire highways for repairs at one go will cost us more and will also create traffic inconvenience as these two roads handle the maximum traffic of the city,” the official said.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
