The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally blacklisted a contractor who had failed to complete work on the Gazdar Bandh pumping station. The pumping station was meant to prevent flooding in Khar, Santacruz and Vile Parle and the contractor was given the work in 2014. When he failed to complete it on time, he was fired and a show-cause notice was issued. He has finally been blacklisted.
BMC’s storm water disposal project (Brimstowad) has been dogged by controversy for constant delays and escalating costs. Among numerous other things, the project had recommended creating eight new storm water drain pumping stations to prevent monsoon flooding.
Of the eight, only five have become functional. Work on the sixth pumping station at Gazdar Bandh has been delayed for at least three years. The original contract of constructing the pumping station worth ₹125 crore was given to M/s Pratibha Industries in 2014 and work was supposed to be complete by 2016. But there were constant delays from the contractor, following which BMC removed him in 2018.
The Hindu reported in August last year how the BMC was in the process of finalising a new contractor, which it did, at a cost of around ₹60 crore. Work also involves maintenance of the pumping station for the next seven years. This cost is being recovered from the old contractor.
Meanwhile, the BMC had issued a show-cause notice to Pratibha Industries. Under due procedure, BMC has issued a blacklisting order to the company. “We held around 12 meetings with that contractor. Since there was no result, we issued a blacklisting order. The new work is on in full swing and will be complete well in time,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Vijay Singhal.
Also, the BMC is confident that work on the pumping station will be complete before this monsoon. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta also mentioned it in his budget speech recently.
Mr. Mehta set aside ₹1,302 crore for the Storm Water Drains department in this budget. Apart from desilting nullahs, the Mithi river and widening of nullahs, the BMC will be tackling 60 more flooding spots before the monsoon. It will be fitting grills inside 1,575 manholes at a cost of ₹1.2 crore.
