Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081958580300.htm

New Delhi

MCD to depute mobile squads to repair potholes

Staff Reporter

‘Mobile squads would be headed by an executive engineer and be equipped with required materials’
These squads would also be connected to the control rooms at the headquarter and the zones

NEW DELHI: After spending over Rs.200 crore on road repair and ordering a vigilance enquiry to probe incidents of potholes on its roads, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has now decided to depute mobile squads to repair potholes and monitor the work in progress across all its 12 zones.

The decision was announced by Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta here on Monday while outlining the civic body’s short-term and long-term strategy on road improvement.

Mr. Gupta said these mobile squads would be headed by an executive engineer and be equipped with cement bags, emulsion and all required materials to fill up potholes. In addition, the squad would be equipped with a digital camera to monitor the work undertaken by the squad and take photographs before and after filling up the potholes.

The squad would take stock of the road condition not only during day but also during night whenever the traffic density is low and the potholes can be comprehensively and accurately identified. These squads would also be connected to the control rooms at the headquarter and the zones. Citizens would be able to file their complaints at the central control room where they would be given complaint number for follow-up by officials and citizens themselves.

The Standing Committee chairman said: “It would be ensured that resurfacing of roads is preceded by proper drainage system because in the absence of proper drainage system the rainy water damages the roads extensively.”

Apart from mobile squads, the MCD would also be writing to the Central Road Research Institute to suggest new road specifications for Delhi keeping in mind the traffic pressure on the roads.

Mr.Gupta said: “We have undertaken repair of about 337 roads so far and are going to expedite repairs on remaining roads on a day-to-day basis. We held an emergency meeting with the MCD Commissioner wherein the Chief Engineer had been directed to identify sensitive points .”