With rains offering reprieve in the last two days, the beleaguered Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has started temporary repair of roads even as appealing to the citizens to bear with the bad conditions for at least another fortnight.
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu said a coordinated effort with the Roads & Buildings Department and the National Highway authorities had been taken up to repair badly damaged stretches.
“Of the 26 days this month, it rained for 15 days, and nature did not allow us to take immediate restoration work,” he said.
Within the GHMC limits, 7,992 potholes were identified, and 5,137 of them were being filled with bitumen mix.
“We request citizens to please bear with us. The problem is being attended to in coordination with all the associated departments,” Mr. Krishna Babu said.
Feedback sought
Meanwhile, feedback from the traffic police and the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) is being sought. It was decided to take up repair work to the tune of Rs.16 crore on a three-day short tender. “Budget is not a constraint for improving the condition of roads and for citizens’ convenience,” Mr. Krishna Babu affirmed.
Notices served
On the poor quality of earlier road work, the Commissioner said that of the 53 stretches taken up by contractors after the CoP-11 meet last year, 16 were found to be deficient, and since the defect-liability period was still there, notices were served to contractors.
“If they fail to rework, we will do the job and recover the cost from deposits,” he said.
Discussions
Issues such as overflowing sewerage and water leakage damaging roads were found, and discussions were held with senior officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).
The civic body was prepared to provide funds to the Water Board and had sought estimates, too.
The issue of taking over Roads & Buildings roads was discussed even at the Chief Minister’s level, but it did not materialise as “the R&B seems to be reluctant,” Mr. Krishna Babu quipped.
