The Indian Express 03.08.2013
BMC defers deadline to fill potholes
said officials. With potholes becoming an election issue and Rahul
Shewale, chairman of standing committee offering to resign, the civic
administration has been getting flak from citizens.
Additional Commissioner SVR Srinivasan (Roads) said, “A master
plan that will look into the procession routes is ready,” said
Srinivasan. BMC had last week discussed suitable measures to repair
roads with Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti.
Meanwhile, even as the fresh deadline looks difficult, a 10-day
report by road engineers from all wards of BMC has further burdened the
civic administration, as it showed a steep rise in potholes across the
suburbs. However, around 20 per cent of roads in the western suburbs
were yet to be accounted for.
“I am yet to look at the pothole data on the western suburbs as
only 80 per cent of the reports have reached me. Potholes have increased
significantly in the eastern suburbs,” said Srinivasan.
“Earlier, BMC had set August 16 as the deadline saying they had
funds to repair the roads in time for the Ganesh Utsav but now they say
they will get it done by August 25. It will be difficult to take idols
to the mandap,” said Naresh Dahibawkar, president of Sarvajanik Ganpati
Mandal Samanvay Samiti.