A week after its inauguration, the newly opened Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) connector is already showing signs of poor quality work, with portions of the road surface coming off. Adding to the concern, nearly eight rumbler strips from the bridge stretch have reportedly gone missing.
On Tuesday evening, when this reporter visited the newly opened SCLR connector arm, it was observed that the small grains from the upper layer of the road surface had come off. Going onto the bridge, it was seen that four rumbler strips installed to reduce the speed of vehicles appeared to be coming off the road.
Vipul Mane, a motorist, said, “On Tuesday, while travelling via the SCLR connector, I was shocked to see that the upper surface of the road had started coming off. One location where the rumblers were installed had also got damaged and an uneven road surface had developed beneath it. All this is happening within a week of its opening, raising serious questions over the quality of the work.”
Rumblers allegedly stolen by miscreants. PICS/NIMESH DAVE
On Wednesday, too, this reporter travelled on the newly opened arm of the SCLR connector that passes over the Western Express Highway and lands on the northbound carriageway of WEH. During the ride, it was seen that small grains from the surface have started coming off in some places.
A little ahead, a road maintenance vehicle of the contractor responsible for maintaining the bridge was seen repairing the portion where rumblers had gone missing. A person who was present with the repair vehicle, requesting not be named, said, “Some anti-social elements have stolen eight rumblers from the bridge and while removing the rumbler strips, they damaged the road surface below, because of which we have started temporary repair work. The rumbler strips will be fixed once we have a dry spell.”
As the upper surface of the road surface of the newly opened SCLR has started coming off, many motorists are upset over the quality of the work. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Bandra East, Varun Sardesai, criticised the condition of the newly opened SCLR connector, stating that although it was ready months ago, its inauguration was delayed. “I had inspected the connector in May, and if the road surface has begun peeling within just a week of opening, it clearly raises doubts about the quality of materials and work. The contractor behind this shoddy execution must be blacklisted by MMRDA,” he said.
The SCLR extension arm passing over WEH was inaugurated on August 14. The connector has South Asia’s first sharp curvature span 100-metre radius cable-stayed bridge. The connector provides signal-free connectivity between the Eastern and Western Express highway, and according to MMRDA, saves approximately 1 hour of travel time from Chembur to Vile Parle. The connector has a 215-metre orthotropic steel deck and a total length of 1.66 km, a width of 8.50 metres, and has been constructed at a cost of `200 crore.
What do experts say?
“Upper surface might have started peeling off due to the top surface coat, or seal coat, which prevents entry of water. It appears that coat lacks the binder material bitumen because of which surface of the road is peeling off,” said Biju Augustin, independent civil engineer.
