BMC Standing Committee clears BRIMSTOWAD

Mumbai, Jan 9 (UNI) Central Government-funded, Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drain (BRIMSTOWAD) was cleared by the Standing Committee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today with the Corporation awarding tenders worth Rs 960 crore to contractors.

BRIMSTOWAD is aimed at improving the century old storm water drainage system in the city and will increase the capacity of the drains to around 50 cm per hour.

The Standing Committee cleared proposals worth Rs 148 crore in the city, Rs 333 crore in the western suburbs and Rs 478 crore in the eastern suburbs, totalling Rs 960 crore, for the implementation of BRIMSTOWAD. The Central Government has disbursed Rs 400 crore as its first installment to the Corporation.

The work is expected to be cleared in the next 12-18 months.

Group leader of NCP in the Corporation and Standing Committee member Niyaz Ahmed Vanu raised doubts about the project and said, ''It is very difficult to implement BRIMSTOWAD as more than 25,000 slums will have to be demolished and the BMC will need alternate accommodations for the same.'' The administration has assured 10 per cent of the contract amount as performance guarantee for the work to be completed by the contractors, and will disburse the remaining as the work progresses.

The Standing Committee has also cleared road repair work worth Rs 400 crore in the city for 34 roads, with 13 roads in the city, 13 in the western suburbs and eight in the eastern suburbs, and will be completed in the coming months.

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