Indian Express 17.08.2010
BMC said 299 potholes across city, mandals count 1,340 on Ganesh route
sharvaripatwa Tags : potholes on the roads, mumbai Posted: Tue Aug 17 2010, 00:07 hrs
Mumbai: A week after the BMC claimed only 299 potholes remain to be repaired in Mumbai, an umbrella organisation of Ganesh mandals has counted 1,340 in a recce of the routes major mandals will take.“This time potholes are a big worry. About 270 major Ganesh mandals tracked their immersion routes and we have estimated about 1,340 potholes,” said Naresh Dahibawkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti.
The BMC had promised all potholes would be repaired by mid-August but Dahibawkar said, “It seems the BMC is stressing repairing potholes in South Mumbai only. Most of the suburban roads mandals will use are not repaired.”
He cited Pantnagar and Bhatwadi in Ghatkopar, Ummarkhadi in Dongri, Khetwadi in Girgaon, Tulsiwadi in Tardeo, Tadiwadi and Anjirwadi in Byculla and some lanes of Lalbaug.
“The inner lanes of Ghatkopar, for example R B Kadam Marg in Barve Nagar, and the entire LBS Marg is full of potholes,” said Vilas Ramchandra Chauhan of the Barve Nagar Akhil Bhatwadi Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal.
Many potholes appear back to back in a single lane, he said. “Idols are 5-6 ft long and they might develop cracks due to the potholes.” “A Ganesh idol cracking would be a major social and political issue. No one should take such a risk,” said a mandal owner.
The number of mandals having multiplied over the years, processions will need better roads. From 8,200 mandals in 2007 and 9,500 in 2008, the total is now up to almost 12,000.
“We will ask the Ganesh mandals to provide a list of the areas and the lanes where they have identified potholes. We will make sure these are repaired,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner. “Of the 82 immersion sites, I will visit about 10-15 and check up on the pothole repair work.”
