The Hindu 30.04.2013
Now, all roads to get audited for quality
Roads in the city are all set to last longer. All bus
routes and interior roads in the city will be subjected to third-party
quality audit and certification by the Chennai Corporation.
Around
one per cent of the works’ cost will be used for employing the
third-party monitoring team, said a senior official of the Chennai
Corporation. The system of third-party monitoring was introduced in 2010
for the Special Roads Programme by the State government. The quality
monitoring team used to directly submit reports pertaining to the roads
covered under Special Roads Programme 2010-2011 to the Chennai
Corporation commissioner and the Municipal Administration and Water
Supply Secretary. The Special Roads Programme 2010-2011 was announced
after the northeast monsoon in 2010. However, other road works have not
been covered under quality monitoring so far. The new system of the
Chennai Corporation is likely to permit payment for the contractor only
after certification by the third-party monitoring team.
The
third-party monitoring team will collect physical samples and ensure
that adequate camber, compaction, proper temperature of bitumen mix and
stipulated plastics mix is made on all roads. This initiative is likely
to ensure that the bitumen concrete roads last more than a decade. As a
chunk of the 1,0000 civic infrastructure development works under way in
the city pertain to road improvement, the civic body is planning to
ensure superior quality for all the stretches.
Contractors
who have completed works without adhering to stipulations may have to
redo the roads after the quality monitoring team submits reports. The
Chennai Corporation has already commenced action against contractors,
who have failed to begin civic infrastructure projects on time.
The
Chennai Corporation council passed a resolution recently blacklisting a
few contractors who had not begun work on the mega city development
projects in the Tondiarpet zone.
In addition to the
private quality monitoring team, the technical audit team of the Chennai
Corporation will also be strengthened with more manpower to improve yet
another mode of quality control. Ten members will join the technical
audit team. The technical audit report of Chennai Corporation too will
play a role in ensuring superior quality of roads, a senior official
said.