Nearly four years after the promise of a pothole-free city, residents across Mumbai say the ongoing road concretisation project continues to cause severe disruption to daily life. While the initiative aims to permanently eliminate potholes, the execution of the work has left many neighbourhoods grappling with dug-up roads, noise, dust and restricted access to emergency services.
Launched under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, the large-scale infrastructure programme has already missed two deadlines. Authorities now say the project may only be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Civic data shows that about 62.5 per cent of the work has been finished so far, but residents argue that progress has slowed significantly compared with the first phase.
Citizens say the biggest problem is not just delays but the poor management of contractors. In several areas—from Sion to Borivali and Mulund—roads remain partially excavated or abandoned mid-way for weeks, sometimes months.
In IC Colony in Borivali West, one family recently struggled to carry their 92-year-old father across rubble and deep trenches to reach an ambulance during a medical emergency. “We had to carry him in our arms. In an emergency, your only thought should be how quickly you can reach a hospital. But that night, our bigger worry was how to navigate such a long, broken stretch while holding him. No one should have to go through this,” said the resident.
A traffic police no-objection certificate issued for the works includes 22 conditions, such as ensuring that at least one lane remains open and prohibiting excavation on both sides of a road simultaneously. However, residents claim these rules are frequently ignored. Activist Kamlakar Shenoy said, “Despite the traffic NOC listing several conditions, the BMC doesn’t seem to notice these violations.”
Officials from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation say delays sometimes occur due to utility work or logistical limitations. Yet residents argue that the city’s wealthiest municipal corporation should be able to better manage large-scale infrastructure projects.
For many neighbourhoods, the promised transformation of city roads still feels distant, as daily life continues to be disrupted by prolonged construction.
Source: Hindustan Times
