The Times of India             03.12.2013

Hyderabad road repair works to be handed over to contractors

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will outsource maintenance of about 500 km length of roads soon. In the first phase, main roads will be given for annual maintenance contract and would be extended to other roads in the later phases if it yields good results.

GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar has recently announced that the corporation was contemplating to handover some roads to contractors for annual maintenance for a certain period on the lines of the Delhi model.

Officials said about 10 packages, each package covering a distance of 50 km to 60 kms, would be given to contractors, who have to take care of regular maintenance of works like filling potholes and patch works whenever the road stretch gets damaged.

Sources said several conditions would be incorporated in memorandum of understanding being prepared for contractors, who would have to engage engineers, supervisors, vehicles and other manpower. The contractor would be given the responsibility of inspecting the roads

on day-to-day basis. The job chart with specific timelines would also be incorporated in the agreement with penalty clause if they fail to carry out repairs in the specified time frame. The GHMC is planning to handover roads for a period of one to three years on contract.

"The corporation is examining various methods and conditions that are being followed by the Delhi Municipal Corporation, National Highways and also Roads and Buildings (R&B) department. The road stretches are being identified by engineers simultaneously. Tenders will be floated soon," GHMC engineer-in-chief R Dhan Singh told TOI.

In Greater Hyderabad limits, the road network is about 6,500 km length. With limited engineering staff and machinery, the corporation has not been able to take up road repairs whenever they get damaged due to either rains or wear and tear. Officials admit patch works and other repairs of damaged roads were taking three to four months after monsoon, leading to public outcry over delay in completing repairs. For instance, the damaged roads during the recent rains are yet to be repaired. If the regular maintenance works are given to private contractors, they would concentrate on other works, including projects.

GHMC to follow Delhi model, and give road maintenance work in the city to private contractors.

Roads will be divided into packages with each package covering a distance of 50 km to 60 kms.

The contractors will given the responsibility of regular maintenance like filling potholes and patch works whenever the road stretch gets damaged.

To begin with 500 km of main roads will be given to contracts and tenders will be called soon.