The Indian Express            03.08.2013

BMC defers deadline to fill potholes

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.