KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has blacklisted a contractor for one year and withdrawn its road repair work over alleged negligence and poor-quality pothole filling during the monsoon.The civic body had appointed different contractors in various wards to undertake pothole-filling and road maintenance work during the monsoon.Ahead of the Ganesh festival last month, contractors were specifically instructed to ensure that roads were repaired and made motorable to prevent inconvenience and maintain law and order during the festivities.While satisfactory work was reportedly completed in most wards during breaks in the rainfall, the contractor appointed for F Ward in the Dombivli division, Bharat Udyog Ltd, allegedly failed to maintain the required quality despite repeated instructions from the civic administration.The KDMC said the contractor’s negligence was particularly serious as the work was required to be completed properly before and during the Ganesh festival, when roads witness heavy movement of vehicles and pedestrians.Following the alleged lapses, the civic administration withdrew the road repair work allotted to Bharat Udyog Ltd and blacklisted the company for one year.KDMC city engineer Anita Pardeshi last week issued a notice to the contractor communicating the action.Civic officials said contractors entrusted with road maintenance are expected to adhere to prescribed quality standards, particularly during the monsoon when potholes can pose a serious risk to motorists and pedestrians.The action has been welcomed by citizens, who said strict measures against contractors for poor-quality or delayed road work could help improve accountability.Residents also said such action would send a message to other contractors that negligence in civic works would not be tolerated.The KDMC’s decision is expected to put greater focus on the quality and timely execution of road maintenance works across the civic area, particularly during the monsoon.