The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received 3,108 pothole complaints since the onset of the monsoon this year, compared to 3,770 complaints during the same period last year. Civic officials have attributed the decline to the ongoing cement concrete (CC) road project across Mumbai.
According to the BMC, most of the complaints received this monsoon have originated from roads that have not yet been converted into cement concrete. Officials said these complaints are being attended to on priority.
“One of the main objectives of the concretisation of the roads is to make Mumbai pothole-free. The roads are stronger. The pothole complaints come from the non-CC roads, which are addressed immediately. Since many city roads are now concretised, the pothole complaints have reduced,” said an official from BMC’s roads department.
While residents acknowledge that the number of potholes has reduced compared to previous years, many have raised concerns over the quality of repair work. Citizens allege that temporary fillings deteriorate quickly and, in some cases, create uneven road surfaces that pose safety risks, particularly for two-wheeler riders.
Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of Chandivali Residents Association, claimed that some complaints are marked as resolved without proper repairs being carried out.
“The BMC closes the pothole complaints online at times even without addressing them. At present, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road is one with the highest potholes. At many places potholes are filled with their instant fillings, but the filling is so poor that once some heavy vehicles pass on them, the potholes reappear. While at some places the filling is extra, which creates bumps on roads, making driving more risky,” he said.
Ajay Shete, a resident of Chembur, highlighted the difficulties faced by two-wheeler users.
“I drive a two-wheeler every day, and the potholes filled, especially on the flyovers, have made the roads uneven. It is very risky to drive. At times, it feels like the potholes are better than the bumpy roads, from which two-wheelers can skid easily.”
Residents have also pointed to several cement concreting projects that remain incomplete. Although the BMC has made these stretches temporarily motorable until work resumes after the monsoon, commuters say unfinished roads continue to affect travel.
“Apart from concentrating on new roads, the officials should ensure existing roads are safe to drive,” said Sayali Bhosale, who works in Marol.
Source: The Free Press Journal
