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.
