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.

The Hindu               15.02.2014

Amma canteens and Eco Park in Madurai get ISO certification

Staff Reporter

Four ‘Amma’ canteens in the city have been awarded ISO 9001:2008 Certification by the International Organization for Standardization.

Apart from the Amma canteens, three other public places, including Corporation Eco Park, in the Corporation area too have been certified.

Addressing media persons here on Friday, Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa said the Amma canteens at K. Pudur, Sandhaipettai, Tirupparankundram and Melavasal had got ISO certification.

The Corporation would take efforts to ensure that the seven other ‘Amma’ canteens functioning in the city too continued to serve quality food to the public.

“The certifications say a lot about how well we have been maintaining the canteens, and it is an honour for the entire district,” he said.

There are eleven Amma canteens in the city, including the one declared open at Government Rajaji Hospital this week.

Mr.Chellappa said three public places in the city too had been certified by the international organisation. “The Corporation Swimming pool on Dr.Thangaraj Salai received ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness,” he added.

The Corporation Eco Park had bagged ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications for being a popular and well-maintained place for public recreation, and Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Stand received ISO 9001:2008 certification for having superior infrastructure, he noted.

“The Corporation is planning to complete all the development works in different wards as soon as possible,” The Mayor said, and released a booklet detailing the ongoing and future projects of the Corporation and the budget for them. Hospitals would be constructed at Anupanadi and Pudur, a public grievance office would be built at Simmakkal, and Corporation officials would have zone-wise offices soon, he added.