The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken stringent action against contractors across Mumbai. The action was taken against the contractors and ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants after they were found guilty of negligence and substandard construction work. This move was to ensure the quality of cement concrete road construction and building works in Mumbai.

Contractors Penalized, Barred from Future Tenders

According to reports, a contractor responsible for delays in the road concreting work at Aarey Colony has been barred from participating in any BMC department tenders. He is not allowed to participate for the next two years and has been fined ₹5 lakh. In addition, two other road contractors have been fined ₹20 lakh each for substandard work.

Meanwhile, two RMC plants have had their registrations canceled after slump test discrepancies were discovered. They too are now prohibited from supplying concrete mix for any BMC projects for the next six months. These RMC plants were also fined ₹20 lakh each for their lapses.

Commissioner’s Firm Stance on Quality

Mr. Bhushan Gagrani the BMC Commissioner and Administrator has emphasised that no leniency will be shown towards negligence or low-quality work in road projects. He further issued strict directives to ensure that ongoing cement concrete road works are of the highest standards. He also warned that any discrepancies will lead to severe action.

Deadline for Road Completion

Additionally, the BMC is actively implementing a citywide concrete road project. They have a clear goal to complete the road construction by May 31, 2025. The BMC is conducting micro-planning with each road project assigned a specific deadline.

All the Engineers are expected to remain present at work sites. Other senior officials have been instructed to conduct surprise visits to ensure speed and quality of road construction.

A notice was issued to the contractor for Dinkarrao Desai Marg’s cement concrete and mastic asphalt road work in Aarey Colony. This comes after a site inspection by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Mr. Abhijit Bangar revealed poor quality work.

However, despite being instructed to rectify the issues immediately, the contractor caused further inexcusable delays. Following the inspection a ₹5 lakh fine was imposed, and the contractor was barred from BMC tenders for two years.

‘M-East’ Ward Incident

Senior BMC official Mr. Bangar conducted a surprise inspection at Dr. Neetu Mandke Road in the ‘M-East’ ward on the night of March 20, 2025. However a slump test revealed a discrepancy. The slump measured 160 mm at the RMC plant, but 170 mm at the site.

The official rejected the whole load and the mixer vehicle was sent back. The RMC plant involved was fined ₹20 lakh, its registration canceled. The plant was banned from supplying concrete to BMC projects for the next six months.

‘B’ Ward Incident

On April 1, 2025, a similar issue was discovered, during another surprise inspection by Mr. Bangar at the Jail Road site in ‘B’ ward. The slump was 65 mm at the plant but 180 mm at the work site.

However, the contractor and RMC plant claimed it was an oversight. But, a fine of ₹20 lakh was imposed on the contractor. This RMC plant was again deregistered and banned from supplying to BMC for six months.

“The municipal officers are conducting direct inspections to maintain road work quality”, said Mr. Abhijit Bangar. He warned that any detected faults no matter how small or big will be met with severe action. He said, “Contractors must remain vigilant, as no compromise on quality will be tolerated”.

The Importance of Slump Tests

According to reports, the Slump tests are crucial in determining the workability of concrete by measuring the water-cement ratio. Excess water in the cement mix disturbs this ratio and negatively impacts the quality of the built structure.

In order to curb any future mishaps, the BMC has made slump testing mandatory. These tests will be conducted at both the RMC plant and the actual work site to ensure the concrete’s quality meets the required standards for construction.