Roads are in pathetic state, say civic activists

Mumbai: Civic activists have dismissed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s claims that there are no potholes on city roads and the work was completed before the monsoon. Terming it a blatant lie, they have said that roads in all parts of the city are in a pathetic state after the heavy rains last week.

Speaking in the civic standing committee two days ago, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Ajoy Mehta had said that 138 km of roads, whose works were completed before the monsoon, are in good shape and there are no potholes.

“No potholes have been seen on the 138 km of roads, which were repaired before the monsoon. Repair works of remaining 186 km of roads will be undertaken after the monsoon is over,” he had informed the standing committee.

However, MNS group leader Dilip Lande alleged that municipal commissioner is ‘blatantly lying’. “I will take him to our L-ward and show him that roads repaired before the monsoon has developed plenty of potholes. The Magan Nathuram Road in Kurla was repaired in mid-June this year. But there are already three to four big craters on the road, which are causing huge inconvenience to people. One pothole has been repaired by paver blocks.”

“If a road repaired barely three months ago is in such a bad shape, you can imagine the state of other roads, whose repairs were carried sometime back. The Nari Seva Sadan Road, which leads to Saki Naka, was done a one and half year back and has developed big potholes. The H Wadia Road, which saw its first monsoon after repairs, is riddled with potholes,” said Mr Lande.

Civic activist James John Koreth from AGNI said, “It is the duty of the BMC to keep all roads in good shape during the monsoon. In Andheri, you will find potholes everywhere. All roads such Cardinal Gracias Road, Mahakali Caves, Marol-Maroshi Road, Andheri-Sahar Road, JB Nagar Link Road are in deplorable state. The BMC tried to repair them before the Ganpati immersion. But it was an eyewash because the works were so substandard that next time when it will rains, the repairs will be washed away.”