If all goes right, expect the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to begin work on improving the city’s landmark Marine Drive from January. The civic body plans to float tenders for complete resurfacing work to be carried for the first time in 72 years since the arterial road took shape by end of October.
Additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said, “We intend to float tenders by end of this month. Considering the time administrative procedures may take, we hope to commence work by January.”
As of now the Corporation plans to complete the work of resurfacing the stretch between NCPA (from Nariman Point) and Girgaum Chowpatty in five months considering the heavy traffic witnessed on the 4.3km stretch each day.
“We will be working as per recommendations made by the standing technical advisory committee (STAC). We had appointed a consultant to check strata beneath the road. Any company that is interested in doing the work will have to submit a proposal on how it plans to complete the work in the said time. The proposal will have be approved by traffic cops,” Gupta said.
The civic body plans to do the resurfacing work lane-by-lane. The route will be re-laid in two phases between NCPA and Madame Cama and from Madame Cama to Chowpatty. “About 70% of the road will be resurfaced using concrete while 30% will have 40 mm asphalt mechanised mastic,” the official said.
The BMC decided on resurfacing the road following complaints of deterioration of its riding quality due to ad-hoc patch work over the years. The civic body estimates that the work will cost Rs36 crore and has made a budgetary provision of Rs15 crore for the same during the on-going fiscal.
Local residents hope that the work will be completed in stipulated time, but added they were ready to co-operate with the BMC until the resurfacing work is complete. “The road is not only meant for people staying along the Queen’s Necklace. It is for everyone. Considering that it is such an important road, the work should be completed in the stipulated time,” a resident said, on the condition of anonymity.
