The Hindu               15.02.2014

85% of new roads bad; to be re-laid

Contractors engaged by the Chennai Corporation to lay roads will have to buck up and deliver on quality hereafter.

After finding 85 per cent of the newly-laid roads screened this week to be of inferior quality, the civic body has sternly told the contractors to scrape the roads and relay them as per specifications.

“As many as 23 of the 27 roads have failed the test on the required binder content. We have issued notices to the contractors to scrape out the entire road and carry out the work again,” said a senior official.

From this week, the civic body’s newly-created quality control wing has been enforcing the norms of road re-laying.

Following a major administrative revamp of the civic body, the 21-member wing collected samples for ‘core cut sample test’ from 27 roads in the first few days.

Officials have collected samples from areas such as George Town, Royapuram and Manali. “Anna Pillai Street in the busy, commercial neighbourhood of Kothwal Chavadi was re-laid on February 7. But, with just 2.85 per cent of the 3.3 per cent of bitumen mix required, the road has failed lab tests. The contractor did a shoddy job. We have issued notice and ordered the road be laid again,” said an official of the quality control wing.

Some other roads, such as MMDA 9{+t}{+h}Street, 14{+t}{+h}Street, 102{+n}{+d}Street in Manali zone, also failed the lab test.

R.K. Nagar First Street in ward 57, Umberson Street in ward 56 and Davidson Street in ward 56 have also failed the test.

“We will visit other parts of the city shortly. Contactors will be forced to carry out the work again if roads fail the test,” said an official.

A few weeks ago, the civic body had completed a video-recording of newly re-laid roads in the 15 zones. Potholes were identified on a few stretches and contractors were asked to repair them.

But the new initiative through the quality control wing will facilitate complete makeover of the roads as the contractors will have to adhere to quality norms, officials said.

The civic body has already enhanced the guarantee period of roads to five years, in most projects. Road contractors have to maintain the stretches in good condition for the period, as per their agreement, an official said.