Problems with supply of tar hits road works
| Date :09-May-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
THE road repair works that were in full swing till a month ago in Nagpur city, have slowed down as the bids received for transporation of tar from refinery in Mumbai, could not be opened due to Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections in force. For the past some time, the repairs of tar roads in Nagpur city and laying of top layer have stopped. But, the problem is not restricted to Nagpur city alone. The road repairs and maintenance works, as well as construction of new tar roads in rural areas across the region have been affected. A senior officer of Public Works Department (PWD), on the condition of anonymity, told ‘The Hitavada’ that the shortage in supply of coal tar was an after-effect of strike of refinery employees in Mumbai.
“During the strike, demands from across the State piled up at the level of refineries.The strike has been called off but the demands are being met in a phased manner. As a result, some places across the State are facing shortage in supply of tar,” said the officer. As far as the city of Nagpur is concerned, road works are getting affected and this has worried Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials and contractors both, but for different reasons.
Amin Akhtar, Executive Engineer, Hot Mix Plant, NMC, said that tar was available. However, he added, the problem was with transportation of tar from HPCL refinery in Mumbai to Nagpur. “NMC had floated the tender for transportation. We had received the bids too, but could not open those as Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections came into effect. As the tender for transportation is yet to be finalised, there are problems with supply,” Amin Akhtar said. Considering that the repairs and maintenance of tar roads will have to be completed before the onset of monsoon, now NMC is seeking permission from State-level committee monitoring the implementation of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections, to open the bids received.
However, in the opinion of contractors, there is ‘grave shortage’ of tar. Vijay Naidu, President, NMC Contractors’ Association, told ‘The Hitavada’ that the issue of shortage of tar was not being addressed properly at the level of companies. “The companies have stopped regular discounts also, and the officials are not paying heed towards smooth supply of tar,” he said.
According to him, this is happening for the first time. The contractors lay two layers during construction of roads -- Bitumenous macadum (thick) 50 mm and a thin Semi-Dense Bitumenous Carpet. In many cases, contractors have completed the first thick layer but are waiting for tar to complete the thin layer, Naidu said. Repair and maintenance works are getting affected and contractors are unable to meet the deadlines for completion of work. Naidu said that contractors were worried as the works were to be completed before start of monsoon.