Mumbai: Construction of cement concrete roads is going on at a fast pace in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with the aim of making the roads free from potholes. The BMC administration is stressing on ensuring that the work is of the highest standard.
Strict action is being taken against those who are substandard or negligent.

In this regard, the contractor who caused unacceptable delay in the road concrete work in the Aarey Colony area has been debarred from participating in the tender process of all BMC departments for the next 2 years, and a fine of Rs. 5 lakh has also been imposed.
Similarly, the registration of 2 ready mix concrete (RMC) plants has been cancelled and they have been debarred from supplying concrete mix for any BMC project for 6 months.
In addition, a fine of Rs. 20 lakh each has also been imposed on 2 road contractors.
All these actions have been taken on the directions of BMC Commissioner Shri Bhushan Gagrani. He has made it clear that *no negligence or lapse in the road concrete work will be tolerated* and strict action will be taken against the guilty.

Specific Incidents:

1. *Aarey Colony – Dinkar Rao Desai Road*:

• The quality of work was found to be poor in the inspection by Additional Commissioner (Projects) Shri Abhijeet Bangar.
• The contractor was issued a notice, fined Rs. 5 lakh and directed to rectify immediately.
• Delay in repairs also resulted in a ban on participation in tenders for 2 years.

1. *Dr. Neetu Mandke Road, M-East Ward – 20 March 2025*:

• During a surprise inspection, a difference was found in the slump test (160mm at the plant, 170mm at the site).
• The concrete load was rejected, the vehicle was sent back, the RMC plant was fined Rs. 20 lakh and banned for 6 months.

1. *Karagroh Road, B Ward – 1 April 2025*:

• Slump was found to be 65mm at the plant while 180mm at the site.
• Notice was given to the contractor and RMC plant, despite admitting the mistake, a fine of Rs 20 lakh and a supply ban of 6 months were imposed.

Importance of Slump Test:

Slump test is done to check the “workability” of concrete. It shows the ratio of cement to water.
If the water is too much, it has a negative impact on the quality.
That is why BMC has made slump test mandatory at both ready mix plants and sites.

Additional Commissioner Mr. Abhijeet Bangar said that BMC officers are inspecting the work themselves, and if any flaw is found, strict action will be taken against the responsible individual or institution. All contractors have to be careful, because no compromise with quality will be accepted.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has termed the reduction in the installment of Ladli sisters as a fraud. He said that the way cash is illegally distributed for votes on election night, one thousand and two thousand rupees are distributed in the areas for votes per person, in the same way, women were lured under the Ladli sister scheme before the elections. This is a kind of deception of the Mahayoti government and now that the meaning has been revealed, they do not recognize it. He said that will the Mahayoti government also return the votes of these Ladli sisters that these sisters had given to them in the elections? He said that due to the Ladli sister scheme, the government treasury was burdened. The salaries of government employees, doctors and other staff have also been paid late, in such a situation, the government has deceived the Ladli sisters. After the elections, an increase in the installment was announced and a promise was made to give Rs 2100, but now it has been reduced from Rs 1500 to Rs 500. The government had included more than two crore women in the Ladli Behan scheme, but now they are being disqualified using excuses and tricks. This is a betrayal of the sisters who have voted.

Mumbai, Mumbai – The government land given to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in Survey No. 341 in Bandra (East) area in 1983 for the office of “National Herald”, Nehru Library and Research Centre has been misused, the investigation report of the Gautam Chatterjee Committee has revealed. In this backdrop, RTI activist Anil Galgali has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding immediate action.
The investigation report says that 83 thousand square feet of construction has been done on the land, including 11 thousand square feet of basement and additional use of 9 thousand square feet of upper floor, which is in violation of the rules. As per the rules, only 15 percent commercial use was allowed, but this has also been violated. In addition, additional land allocated for the hostel was also given to the institution ignoring the rules.
In 2001, under a controversial order of the Revenue Department, the leased land was converted into direct ownership and interest of ₹ 2.78 crore was waived, which the committee has declared against the rules and recommended its review.
Anil Galgali has made the following demands to the Chief Minister through a letter. Legal action should be initiated to take back the said land to the government.
The waived interest amount and additional penalty should be recovered. A hostel for backward class students should be started on one floor of the building. Instructions should be given to start a library and research centre on the remaining land. Gautam Chatterjee’s investigation report should be made public.
Anil Galgali said, “It is very important to ensure fair justice in this matter and use the government land in the public interest.”