Vadodara: Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu on Friday expressed strong displeasure over incidents of asphalt melting at multiple locations in the city and directed officials to take strict action against contractors responsible for the works.

During a review meeting held to assess ongoing civic projects, the Commissioner sought a detailed account of works related to water supply, drainage and road construction. He instructed officials to ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timeline, especially with elections approaching and the monsoon season expected after summer.

The meeting turned tense when the issue of asphalt melting on newly constructed roads was raised. Reports indicated that asphalt had melted at nearly 10 locations across the city.

Particularly, the Commissioner questioned officials about three locations where the problem was reported — behind Makarpura depot, the stretch from Express Hotel to Enjoy Restaurant in Alkapuri, and near Sangam crossroads.

When the Executive Engineer attempted to justify the issue by stating that such incidents also occur in cities like Surat, Navsari and Ahmedabad due to technical factors, the Commissioner rejected the explanation.

He questioned the officials sharply, asking why roads do not melt in states like Rajasthan or outside Gujarat if the issue is merely technical.

Taking a stern stance, Mahesh Babu ordered that no contractor should be given the benefit of doubt and directed officials to issue notices to the contractors responsible for the three roads. He also instructed that penalties be imposed on the contractors if irregularities are found.

As an immediate safety measure, the Commissioner ordered officials to sprinkle sand at spots where the asphalt has melted. He further directed that samples of asphalt from the affected roads be collected and sent to a laboratory for examination to determine the quality of materials used.

The civic body has been holding regular review meetings to push for faster completion of infrastructure works ahead of the monsoon season. The Commissioner reiterated that any negligence or substandard work by contractors will not be tolerated.