Greater Chennai Corporation to stockpile 260 tonnes of cold bituminous mix

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has initiated procurement of 260 tonnes of bituminous cold mix as part of its preparations for the approaching Northeast monsoon season. The stockpiling effort comes in response to mounting complaints about damaged road surfaces and prolonged delays in road repair and relaying operations across the city.

The cold bituminous mix will be distributed across 15 zones of the GCC for targeted pothole repairs on designated bus routes and interior roads. Officials expect the material to provide a quick, temporary remedial solution for road surface deterioration during the monsoon period when water ingress can rapidly worsen existing damage.

Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar has advocated for a structural shift in road maintenance strategy, recommending that the GCC transition to zone-wise annual maintenance contracts rather than ad-hoc procurement arrangements. Such contracts, he suggested, could facilitate more efficient and timely repair operations while ensuring consistent allocation of resources across different areas of the city.

The initiative reflects ongoing challenges faced by the civic body in managing the city's road infrastructure, with monsoon seasons historically exacerbating surface damage and creating hazardous conditions for commuters and public transport operations.