BMC resumes infrastructure work amid lockdown, explains as the pre-monsoon measures.

Despite the lockdown, BMC has begun pre-monsoon road-resurfacing, desilting and bridge-building work to prevent accidents, flooding, water-logging and rainfall diseases — it has a little over a month and a half to complete the job. On 6 April, BMC resumed 112 works on roads, bridges and stormwater drains (including desilting) with 2,500 labourers.

Additional Municipal Commissioner P Velrasu said, “Most of the roads have been dug up, we have to finish the work before the monsoon to prevent accidents. Desilting is to deter floods and water-logging.

Sanjay Darade, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (infrastructure) said, “We have instructed workers on safety measures and provided masks for the work.”

Developing infrastructure was abruptly halted when the lockdown was declared on March 24, to prevent COVID-19 spreading. Roads were left dug at several places, and machinery was abandoned. The work, including on the Hancock Bridge and Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road Bridge, has been restarted by BMC with workers from the city.

Work has also begun on the coastal route, although it has kicked up a controversy as a group of concerned residents under the banner, Save Our Coast, have complained to police that this was a government-ordered breach of the lockdown and was not essential work. BMC authorities have justified the move by claiming they have resumed work to protect what had been done. Civic officials said they concentrated on work that will have to be done before June.

“Save Our Coast”, which involves people from Nepean Sea Road, Bhulabhai Desai Road and Worli, also urged police to intervene against the contractor appointed by the BMC to flout the laws of the lockdown. Activist Debi Goenka said, “They’ve begun reclamation work in Haji Ali Bay, they’re piling work in front of Worli Dairy, they’ve started work on the tunnel site, they’re breaching the lockdown.” Nepean Sea Road resident Mukul Mehra said, “We’ve clicked a video showing them beginning work on a temporary structure about 100 meters away from the sea wall. This work is not essential.”

Officials said before the monsoon they have to complete pending work for the coastal route. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Kuknoor said, “We have to ensure there is no washout of the work done.”