Urban infrastructure across India has emerged as a major concern. The main reason behind this the state governments' bidding process for road construction. According to rules, the lowest bidder gets the contract but the winner also does shabby work. The "classic" example is that of roads in Pune and Mumbai. Recently, we have noted in the print media that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has "blacklisted" five contractors for laying poor quality roads. It is high time the government adopted the public-private partnership mode for urban infrastructure, a practice followed the world over. It will be also desirable if municipal corporations raise adequate funds by issuing bonds, which will help develop quality roads.
Satish Murdeshwar Pune
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