Gujarat: SMC chief warns of action over pending pre-monsoon projects

SURAT: The top brass of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has raised critical questions over the unfinished monsoon-related work on public roads which had been ordered for completion by May-end.
While municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has warned of punitive actions against officers found slighting the civic body’s orders, incidents nearing proving to be life threatening for the citizens have been occurring in the city almost regularly.
On Monday, a city bus got stuck on a portion of uncarpeted road that had been dug for underground repair work. In another incident, a rickshaw passenger suffered severe injuries when a wheel of the rickshaw he was travelling in suddenly got stuck in an open manhole on Bhatar Road on Tuesday. The manhole was covered with water due to which the rickshaw driver could not spot the danger.
Due to the ongoing Metro work, the middle portion of Bhatar Road has been barricaded leaving narrow lanes on both sides for vehicular movement. While crossing through this lane, a rickshaw crashed into an open manhole. Later, local people placed a plastic chair and other material over it to warn people of the hazards in the waterlogged lane. SMC teams started repair work at the spot later in the day.
“We have completed almost all pre-monsoon work. If there is any pending work it will be completed soon,” said an SMC officer from South West Zone.
Meanwhile, at multiple locations in areas of Central and Katargam Zones roads are dug up for repair or development work. Despite the rain starting, these patches have still not been covered which threatens to cause accidents. “I will inquire and ask the officers to take immediate steps. They have been told to complete the pre-monsoon work much in advance,” said Paresh Patel, chairman, standing committee, SMC.
Warning the officers of strict punitive measures, Pani said, “Majority of the work has been completed across the city but if there is any pending work we will finish it immediately. Strict actions will be taken against the officer who is found negligent.”