Navi Mumbai: A navi mumbai based human rights group - Sajag Nagrik Manch Navi Mumbai has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Minister’s Office and the Urban Development Department, demanding an independent audit of road construction quality in Navi Mumbai.

The organization's demands are based on the alleged substandard road construction undertaken by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

The complaint highlights the recent Belapur Railway Station to Konkan Bhavan road, where a newly built cement road developed large cracks within just three months. "This road, constructed as part of NMMC’s initiative to build pothole-free cement roads, had replaced a well-maintained asphalt road. However, due to its poor quality, the road had to be completely demolished and reconstructed within months, raising doubts about the efficiency and accountability of the municipal administration," said the founder of the group, Sudhir Dani.

According to the Manch, such incidents are not isolated. "Across the city, newly built asphalt roads develop potholes within six months, and several cement roads have already shown signs of deterioration," said a member of the group Trishala Kamble. With reports of a cement road requiring reconstruction just two months after completion, the organization has questioned the misuse of taxpayers’ money and the lack of strict quality control in civic projects.

The organization has also demanded that an independent agency, excluding NMMC’s own engineering department, conduct an audit of all asphalt and cement roads constructed over the past three years. Additionally, it has urged the testing of construction material samples at VJTI or COEP, instead of IIT, as IIT was previously involved in supervising the project but failed to ensure quality standards.

Sajag Nagrik Manch has also called for disciplinary action against engineers and officials responsible for allowing poor-quality work. It has insisted that the audit report be made publicly available on NMMC’s official website to ensure transparency and accountability.

Member Trishila Kamble has accused municipal engineers of turning a blind eye to substandard construction, leading to severe compromises in road quality. The organization has further questioned whether NMMC engineers have the required expertise in civil engineering, as their failure to detect and prevent such poor-quality work raises concerns about their competence.

The complaint has been formally escalated to the Chief Minister’s Office and the Urban Development Department, urging immediate intervention to prevent further financial losses and ensure high-quality road infrastructure in Navi Mumbai.