Faced with a barrage of complaints and drawing flak over the abysmal state of the roads in Hyderabad, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy along with higher officials, held a special review meeting on Wednesday.
Municipal Administration Secretary Navin Mittal was also present at the meeting, and instructed the engineering wing of the GHMC to fill up potholes on a priority basis.
According to media reports, 2,100 potholes were identified in 581 locations in all five zones and a 10-day deadline has been given to contractors, for road restoration work.
The Hindu reported that Rs 23 crore was needed to repair the damaged roads, adding that the GHMC had decided to go ahead with fixed rates for contractors, instead of seeking tenders.
The report adds that the municipal body was also looking to tackle water stagnation points, and has made it mandatory to submit a daily report to the GHMC commissioner on the progress of works.
“The cement concrete roads will take some more time as it involves technical and traffic issues. As per procedure, municipal authorities have to call for tenders for works above Rs 1 lakh. Since even short term tenders are a time consuming process, the works will be allotted to empanelled contractors," GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy told the Times of India.
The TOI report adds that GHMC has prepared a check list on several parameters, to ensure that quality is not compromised during emergency works.
The constant rain lashing Hyderabad this week has left citizens witnessing a repeat of last year, as potholes and pits have returned to haunt commuters and pedestrians alike.
The constant downpour has battered roads in several areas and the flowing water has also washed away the roads in some areas.
Several arterial roads in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Cyberabad, have also faced the brunt of the showers.
Meanwhile, state Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao asked the GHMC not to allow procedural delays to come in the way of repairing roads.