02 August,2017 06:10 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
MMRDA has decided to spend as much as Rs. 1.28 crore a year just to keep roads and footpaths clean in Mumbai's central business district -- Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC)
Currently, the MMRDA outsources cleaning and maintenance of BKC's roads to a private agency. Pic/ Nimesh Dave
The rest of Mumbai, eat your heart out. MMRDA has decided to spend Rs. 1.28 crore a year just to keep roads and footpaths clean in the city's central business district -- Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
It has invited tenders worth Rs. 9 crore for a seven-year period for their periodical mechanical cleaning. Contracts will be awarded in two months. The MMRDA was appointed the special planning authority for the development of the complex in 1977.
The agency has justified such a large allocation for only 17-18 km of roads and footpaths on the grounds that BKC hosts many international events and exhibitions, and has even seen a visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Unlike the BMC, the MMRDA does not have a dedicated team to maintain and clean roads.
S Varaskar, senior MMRDA engineer, said roads, dividers and footpaths in BKC are currently cleaned manually. "But in the last two years, it has seen many VVIP visits, including one from the PM. During the monsoon, it becomes difficult to maintain footpaths and kerbs. To ensure they are spic and span at all times, we have invited tenders for the periodical mechanical washing of kerbs, dividers and footpaths in BKC." Besides being a business hub -- its two prominent blocks together have about 6.4 lakh employees in various establishments -- BKC hosts mega events, exhibitions and political rallies at the MMRDA Ground in G-Block.
BKC isn't a stranger to preferential treatment. In 2015, the MMRDA had announced its R70-crore 'Smart BKC' project -- on the lines of the central government's Smart City project -- envisioning provision of hi-speed Internet for 30 minutes, smart parking lots with electric cars for last-mile connectivity, street lights with motion sensors, and advanced CCTV networks.
"Taking a clue from its expansion and the growing importance of the new commercial hub which is shaping up in BKC, the concept of Smart BKC was introduced by the MMRDA. This would include harnessing the role of information and communication technologies to transform it into a tech-savvy and modern business district," said a senior MMRDA official.
