While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received flak for the bad condition of asphalt roads,the state-appointed Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) has observed that asphalt roads recommended by the committee have been pothole-free for a long time. After the committee surveyed various roads on Wednesday,it found that a major problem plaguing the city roads is the frequent digging and trenching. The STAC visited four patches of roads that have either been constructed or improved as per the design and structure suggested by the committee. The committee members along with the civic road department officials went to investigate four patches of roads in Dadar,Andheri,Jogeshwari and Arthur. While the roads are in good condition,the major problem at this time is trenching. Various agencies keep digging these roads,but the re-instatement is not done properly, said K V K Rao,member of STAC. We surveyed the roads which had been constructed as per our design and structure and found that they have been in good condition and without potholes for a long time. Most of these roads were constructed in 2008-09. They have been made with the conventional asphalt method based on the thickness,drainage design etc suggested by the committee, said Rao. Officials have estimated that over 15,000 permissions have been granted to various utility agencies to dig up roads since October 2009. The committee has been repeatedly suggesting to BMC to make use of the duct system to ensure that roads remain unaffected after digging. STAC had earlier observed that digging affects underground utilities like cables,wires,gas pipes and drainage lines underneath. Digging activities leads to bad roads. We will discuss the observations with all members and then suggest ways to improve the condition of roads to BMC, said N V Merani,chairman of STAC.
