Mumbai: BMC organises workshop at IIT-B to improve quality of CC roads

In a major step towards improving the quality and durability of Mumbairsquos road infrastructure Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC engineers on Saturday received a oneday brainstorming and technical training workshop at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT BombayAs per the civic authorities over 300 BMC engineers participated in the programme which aimed at the evaluation of completed and ongoing cement concrete CC road works across the cityThe workshop organised by the BMC focused on equipping engineers with scientific technical and practical knowledge related to the planning execution and quality control of cement concrete roadsDuring the programme at IIT Bombay representatives from the Quality Monitoring Agency QMA and contracting firms were also present ensuring a comprehensive discussion involving all key stakeholdersFocus on quality and best practicesThe BMC has undertaken cement concrete CC road works on a large scale and the workshop was organised as part of the civic bodyrsquos efforts to ensure highquality and longlasting road constructionFurthermore the engineers were trained on the use of stateoftheart construction technology best practices to follow on site common mistakes to avoid and solutions to challenges faced during implementationThe workshop was inaugurated with a keynote address by Prof Dr K V Krishna Rao a noted civil engineering expert from IIT BombayEmphasising the importance of thirdparty auditing he emphasised ldquoA practical fieldorientated approach combined with technical cooperation is essential to make Mumbairsquos road infrastructure more robust sustainable and durablerdquoAddressing the gathering Additional Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar said ldquoThe cement concrete road programme which began in October 2023 has achieved around 60 per cent completion with the remaining work progressing despite several challengesrdquoThe Commissioner further added ldquoMumbairsquos high population density and congested urban environment make this a highly complex project However the work is being carried out in a planned and effective mannerrdquoStressing that it is mandatory for engineers to be present at project sites during execution to ensure quality outcomes Bangar enlightened the gathering with a more organised approach towards road infrastructure in MumbaiBangar also added ldquoGood riding quality enhances road lifespan and reduces maintenance costs Proper utilisation of service ducts can prevent repeated road diggingrdquo urging engineers to prioritise both aspectsTechnical Guidance from ExpertsAs per the civic authority observations from site visits and technical inspections were also reviewed during the workshop at IIT BombayProfessor KV Krishna Rao and Professor Solomon Debbarma also provided detailed guidance onUse of quality materials in concrete mixingProper transportation of concrete from RMC plants to worksitesPrecautions during concrete pouringTimely joint cutting after pouringEffective curing methodsExperts suggest protective netting around tree trunksExperts also suggested that protective netting around tree trunks could help create additional space for pedestrians on footpathsDuring the workshop senior BMC officials including Deputy Commissioner Infrastructure Girish Nikam and Chief Engineer Roads and Transport Mantayya Swami were also present at the workshopThe civic body said that it will continue to engage with technical institutions like IIT Bombay to maintain continuous technical dialogue strengthen quality control mechanisms and deliver safer smoother and more durable roads for Mumbai