The Times of India  11.08.2010

MUMBAI: Faced with allegations of corruption and nepotism in the way potholes are being repaired in the city, the BMC may initiate action against drum-mix asphalt plants across the city. Since a long time, experts have been recommending the use of batch-mix asphalt plants as opposed to drum-mix, which mixes coarse bitumen and metal aggregates on the basis of volume and not weight.

After officials from the civic roads department visited asphalt plants at Kandivli on Tuesday, the clamour for shutting down drum-mix plants grew louder. The plants were found to be flouting guidelines and producing sub-standard material for the contractors, said officials. The city has as many as 13 recognised drum-mix plants but there are only three batch-mix plants, all of which are out of the city limits.

"In order to find a better way of treating potholes, the plants should make a shift to batch-mix technology. This technology is recognised worldwide because it guarantees proportionate and high quality volume of mix,'' said C E G Justo, member of the BMC-appointed Standard Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).

The BMC officials had earlier accompanied guardian minister Jayant Patil to a road trip and found roads marked with potholes. A day after it claimed that only 299 potholes are remaining to be repaired, the BMC took a decision that all utility services in the `worst affected' areas will be ducted.

"The road trip with the minister was fruitful and it was found that digging by various utilities was causing potholes on the roles. Now, we have decided to duct the utilities on the worst-affected roads,'' said a senior official.