Mumbai: Surprise Inspection of Ready-Mix Concrete Plant by Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar

Mumbai, 2nd April 2025: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar conducted a surprise inspection of the Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plant in Turbhe last night. The visit aimed to ensure adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and assess the quality assurance processes at the plant, which supplies concrete for the ongoing cement road construction projects in Mumbai.

During the inspection, Bangar reviewed various aspects of the concrete production process. He examined the quality of water used for mixing, which was found clean and appropriately chilled using ice slabs to maintain optimal temperature during mixing. He also inspected the aggregates such as 10mm, 20mm, and crushed sand used in the concrete mixture. It was observed that water sprinkling on these materials was being carried out as per SOPs, although improvements in sprinkler flow were recommended.

The control room at the plant was also inspected to evaluate the computerized process for determining proportions of cement, aggregates, micro silica, fly ash, and water in the concrete mix. IIT Mumbai professors verified these processes and confirmed their compliance with quality standards. Laboratory tests such as slump cone analysis, cube casting, and beam casting were conducted on-site, yielding results that met expectations. All findings were logged before dispatching transit mixer vehicles.

Bangar further checked the vehicle tracking system implemented to monitor transit mixer movements from the RMC plant to construction sites. He reviewed expected delivery times using online tools and provided instructions for preparing mix designs accordingly.

The inspection team included representatives from the Quality Monitoring Agency (QMA), who were present at the site full-time to oversee adherence to SOPs. Their knowledge of the entire process was found satisfactory.

Highlighting the importance of end-to-end oversight, Bangar emphasized that municipal engineers must maintain strict control over all stages—from concrete production to placement and curing—to ensure superior quality cement roads. He announced that similar surprise inspections would continue to uphold standards across all projects.

The inspection was attended by municipal officials, IIT Assistant Professor Solomon Debbarma, and QMA representatives. Bangar reiterated that achieving excellence in cement road construction requires meticulous attention to every detail throughout the process.