In 2014, the city engaged more than 90 contractors to build roads at a cost of over Rs. 2,000 crore.
In comparison, the city of London, in an average year, hires less than 20 contractors to maintain and, if necessary, relay its road network.
Despite their numbers, individual contractors almost never figure in any debate about the state of Chennai’s roads. They are never named or rated. Honourable exceptions are there. But, potholed roads have never affected the business of incompetent contractors.
That changed for a brief moment in December 2014 when, in response to a public backlash, the Chennai Corporation blacklisted six contractors for the first time (see box).
But The Hindu’s analysis of records relating to the 1,300-odd road quality tests undertaken last year shows the Corporation’s action doesn’t even scratch the surface of the problem.
Of the 90-odd contractors involved, 10 failed to meet the Corporation’s own standards every single time their work was put through a quality test. A further 30 contractors failed more often than they passed, meaning, the quality of their work is worse than the odds of a coin toss.
“Knowledge of road engineering is very poor among contractors,” says A. Veeraraghavan, a professor of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. “They use arbitrary designs and oversight too is completely lacking most of the time. There is also the spectre of corruption,” he says.
Despite their sub-standard work, many of the city’s contractors have been getting away with it for years, shows The Hindu’s analysis.
In the midst of the monsoon in 2014, the Corporation conducted a pothole survey and pulled up several contractors whose work in previous years had been suspect. Interestingly, many of them also figure in the 2014 list of contractors whose road samples have failed the quality test repeatedly and frequently.
Clearly, the same mistakes are being repeated every year, says Mr. Veeraraghavan.
“We cannot settle for this year after year. Every councillor should be rated based on the roads in his area. For that, we need an objective standard, which is why the quality tests have to be made public. The city should also have a public affairs committee, similar to the one in Bengaluru, so citizens can audit public works,” he says.
In the absence of direct citizen involvement, every single move within the Corporation, towards accountability and reform, has been circumvented, watered down, or ignored, says a senior government official.
“Corruption is entrenched in the system. The quality control initiative will work only if there is transparency,” the official says.
--------------------------------
Chennai's road network: Bus routes 471, roads - 387 km, Interior roads 32385, roads - 5300 km
Reality check:
Roads tested in 2014 | Roads that failed | Failure rate |
1353 | 413 | 31.58% |
The Road Ahead: Suggestions for Change
1) Implement Bengaluru's 'Tender Sure' model
India spends over Rs.9 lakh crore each year replacing recently paved roads, according to the National Transport Development Committee. In order to break this cycle of spending, Bengaluru has radically altered its roadway tender structure, making contractors responsible for the road for a period of five years.
2) Create a public affairs committee
The garden city has also begun to place emphasis on public participation in civic governance. The public affairs committee has eminent citizens and experts on its panel and they bring out frequent reports evaluating the work of the municipal corporation.
3) Public disclosure of data
Now that the Chennai Corporation has begun to collect data on the quality of road laying, this information has to be made public as close to real-time as possible so that citizens can offer informed oversight and feedback. Global cities like New York already do this [see nycdot.info].
Contractor quote:
Newly paved roads have to be protected from traffic for at least a few hours if we want top quality roads. The traffic police as well as residents must cooperate with us. Contractors are also a bit scared since the Corporation has started doing these quality tests. They want to deliver good roads.
S. Pandian, president, Road Builders' Association
Contractors blacklisted by Corporation
*Somasundaram & Bros. |
*Gokul Enterprises |
*U.P.Ramaiah |
*Om Sakthi Constructions |
*Sri Venkateswara Road Construction Pvt. Ltd. |
*Kubendran |
(Source: Chennai Corporation)
| Contractor | Total roads tested | Failure rate |
|---|---|---|
| Sendurmurugan Construction | 19 | 79% |
| Jenefa Construction | 27 | 52% |
| SPL Construction | 41 | 41% |
| Babuji Construction | 13 | 31% |
| Sri Venkateshwara Construction | 108 | 6% |
