BMC invests in unused pothole-filling machines

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to invest on pothole-filling machines as it received a lot of flak over potholes, especially during the monsoon in 2011, reported DNA.

In another revelation that is likely to sully the corporation's image further, it has emerged that the BMC will spent Rs 68 crore on the maintenance of three unused Jetpatcher machines which were purchased to end the menace of potholes. According to the contract, Rs 4.06 crore was earmarked as the cost of maintenance. The escalation in the maintenance cost happened because the contractor submitted bills of the pilot work carried out in the city by him along with the maintenance bills. The BMC sanctioned the amount without checking the details and paid it to the contractor without a fuss. Apart from spending money on the machines, the BMC also spent Rs 59.31 crore to fill potholes this year and paid 24 other contractors. The three Jetpatcher machines were meant to be used to fill potholes in the city, eastern and western suburbs. Filling potholes is a time-consuming task if done manually. Labourers need to dig out the damaged road surface before the process of repairing it starts. The patch also needs to be dry overnight so that a layer of asphalt can be laid on top. If the patch is wet, it takes that much more time for the asphalt to settle. The Jetpatcher does all this is in one smooth operation and moves on to the next pothole even during the monsoon. The machine was used on an experimental basis in 2009 and 15,000 sq mt of potholes were filled before the BMC finalised the contract for the purchase of three Jetpatchers.