Chembur concrete fails test, raising quality concerns

Residents in Chembur, Mumbai, were relieved on Thursday night when municipal officials sent back two trucks filled with concrete that didn't meet quality standards. The concrete was intended for Nitu Mandke Marg and Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Marg but failed a crucial test that measures its consistency. This incident has sparked larger concerns among citizens. Many people are worried about the quality of concrete used in other newly paved streets across Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched a major road concretisation project in January 2023, with plans to concrete 397 kilometers of roads. The project is expected to cost ₹ 6,080 crore and aims to complete the work by May 31, 2025. During the inspection, officials found that the concrete from a plant in Turbhe was not up to standard. Abhijit Bangar, the additional municipal commissioner, noted that the concrete had too high a slump, indicating poor workability. This was confirmed by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay who are consulting on the project. Bangar issued a notice to the contractor and asked for clarification on the concrete mix used. He emphasized the importance of rigorous quality checks, instructing that tests be conducted both at the mixing plant and on-site. To prevent future quality issues, he suggested that contractors create different concrete mix designs based on the estimated transportation time to the construction site. He also highlighted the need for engineers to be present during night shifts for better oversight. In addition to immediate quality concerns, Bangar is exploring new construction methods, such as pre-cast techniques. He mentioned the possibility of discussing this with the IIT-Bombay as a way to improve future road work.