Civic body for mapping, colour coding of underground utilities

BMC has suggested to map and colour code all the underground utilities in the city.

After a report prepared by state-appointed committee of officials recommended bringing all the roads in Mumbai under the purview of the civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has suggested to map and colour code all the underground utilities in the city for “its effective maintenance and monitoring.”

Additional Municipal Commissioner SVR Srinivas, in-charge of the roads department, said, “At a time, there can only be eight utilities under one specific road. When different companies or contractors are involved in repair works, a week to 15 days are wasted only in identifying these utilities and then seeking permissions to dig roads. Once we have them mapped and coded with distinct colours on the GIS (Geographic Information System), the work will be easier and faster.”

The report has recommended that all the lines, including sewer lines and water mains, be marked with distinct colours to trace their proper location. Once the civic body brings all the roads under its control, it can also colour code the utilities owned by other agencies, it added.
Noting that every agency has its own standards for construction and maintenance of roads, the panel suggested that all roads in the city be brought under the jurisdiction of the civic body. The committee also noted that as roads are maintained by various agencies, accountability for bad roads is not dealt with adequately.

The report was prepared by a state-appointed panel of officials from different agencies. Chaired by Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, the committee members included representatives from Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Public Works Department, and the Slum Rehabilllitation Authority among other agencies.

tanushree.venkatraman@expressindia.com

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