The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) finds itself in a tight spot as a series of crucial road projects, sanctioned and awarded two months ago, have failed to take off on the ground. Despite issuing work orders in October for projects cumulatively worth a substantial Rs 62 crore, the actual construction and repair work across the city is yet to begin, raising questions about administrative delays and their potential impact.
Approved Projects Await Groundbreaking
In a move to address the deteriorating condition of city roads, the VMC's standing committee had given the green light to a bundle of 30 projects a couple of months prior. The initiative encompassed a mix of constructing new roads, widening existing ones, and general refurbishment of the road network. The push was deemed a priority, driven by the twin pressures of poor post-monsoon road conditions and the need to improve connectivity in developing areas to manage ever-increasing traffic volumes.
Sources indicate that the urgency was further amplified by follow-ups from the Chief Minister's Office, which has been monitoring road conditions in various cities and insisting on prompt repairs. Following the committee's nod, the VMC's roads department formally issued work orders to the successful contractors on October 9, October 10, and October 16. However, the transition from paper to pavement has not materialized even after the passage of nearly two months.
Reasons and Repercussions of the Delay
Former Congress leader and current municipal councillor, Ami Ravat, has been vocal in her criticism of the delay. She attributes the current poor state of many roads to the monsoon season and ongoing drainage projects. Ravat suggests that the VMC might be waiting for a formal inauguration function to kickstart the work, a practice she implies is causing unnecessary holdups.
More importantly, she highlights the risks associated with such procrastination. "The delay will leave the doors open for contractors to protract completion," Ravat stated. She further warned that contractors could potentially use the elapsed time as a grounds to seek cost escalation later in the project cycle, ultimately burdening the civic exchequer.
Official Stance: Awaiting Utility Surveys
On the other hand, civic officials have provided a different rationale for the pause. Dharmikkumar Dave, the Additional City Engineer who heads the roads department, explained that the delay is procedural and precautionary. He stated that the civic body is ensuring a thorough survey of road lines for utility lines is completed before any digging or laying begins.
This step is considered essential to coordinate with other departments and ensure that all underground utility work is finished before the new road surface is laid, preventing future dug-up roads. Dave assured that once this prerequisite survey is complete, the construction work will begin soon.
The situation presents a classic urban governance dilemma: the need for swift action to fix immediate public infrastructure problems versus the necessity of meticulous planning to avoid future disruptions. The citizens of Vadodara now await tangible signs of progress on these promised road improvements, which are crucial for daily commute and the city's overall development.
