In a sweeping action against contractors responsible for substandard road work, the Gujarat state government has launched a major crackdown across 17 municipal corporations and 149 municipalities. This follows public outrage after the July 9 collapse of the Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara, and comes ahead of the upcoming civic elections.
According to a media report, as part of this campaign, over 25 contractors falling under the Defect Liability Period (DLP) have been issued notices and instructed to repair 659 km of damaged roads. The initiative marks the first large-scale accountability drive targeting contractors over road conditions. Engineering staff across municipal bodies have also received explanatory notices.
Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, M Thennarasan,said.“Repair work is being centrally monitored on a daily basis. Civic bodies have been directed to fix all damages swiftly. Any instance of negligence will invite strict action.”
According to state data, 99% of damaged roads across Gujarat’s municipal corporations have already been repaired. As of Wednesday, 577 km of damaged road stretches and 16,665 out of 16,832 reported potholes have been fixed.
Surat: Rs 50 Lakh Penalty, 270 Roads Repaired
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) issued notices to nine contractors and imposed penalties totaling ₹50.42 lakh. According to Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal, repair and resurfacing work has been ongoing in all nine city zones. Over 270 roads have been repaired using more than 4,000 tonnes of bitumen, with SMC’s hot mix plants working around the clock.
Vadodara: 12 Contractors Fined, Engineers Under Scanner
In Vadodara, 12 contractors have been fined ₹18 lakh. Additionally, show-cause notices were issued to nine deputy engineers of the municipal corporation. Out of 3,300 potholes, 3,000 have been filled, and 37.48 km out of 38.42 km of damaged roads repaired. Bitumen patchwork has been completed on 18 km. Municipal Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu warned that disciplinary action will follow if the engineers’ explanations are unsatisfactory.
Other Cities Join Drive
- Junagadh: Notices have been issued to three contractors, with action pending against two more.
- Ahmedabad: Around 7,200 potholes have been repaired this monsoon; three engineers and two contractors have been penalised.
The state government has also warned of criminal proceedings if contractors fail to complete repairs within the DLP or if their negligence leads to accidents or loss of life.
Progress Across 8 Major Municipal Corporations
In Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, and Junagadh:
- 310.68 km of 312 km of damaged roads repaired
- 15,004 out of 15,123 potholes fixed
- 14,633 out of 15,985 complaints addressed
- Asphalt patchwork completed on 55.86 km
In New 9 Municipal Corporations
In Mehsana, Nadiad, Anand, Navsari, Vapi, Surendranagar, Morbi, Gandhidham, and Porbandar:
- 266 km of 347 km of damaged roads repaired
- 1,661 out of 1,709 potholes filled
- 649 out of 676 complaints resolved
- 10 km of asphalt patchwork completed
Regional Municipal Areas
Under the six Regional Commissioners (Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, and Ahmedabad):
- 1,878 out of 2,951 potholes filled
- 818 out of 834 complaints resolved
With the campaign in full swing, the government has promised that the remaining repairs will be completed swiftly, and that negligence will not be tolerated at any level.