BMC sanctions Rs17.30 crore more for pothole crisis

With potholes on city roads showing no signs of disappearing, the local civic body today sanctioned an additional Rs17.31 crore to fix them.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), facing criticism for the poor condition of roads, has increased its pothole repair budget from Rs40 crore to about Rs60 crore.

The BMC had made a budgetary provision of Rs40 crore to fix minor and major roads this year. Of this, it has already spent over Rs36 crore this monsoon.

"The municipal commissioner today sanctioned Rs17.31 crore for carrying out pothole repair works. We have also spent Rs2 crore extra," additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said.

The BMC has asked the traffic police to close parts of roads for a few hours to let the potholes dry after they are repaired.

"For the last two days it is not raining much so our men are carrying out the repair work. We hope it does not rain for the next four-five days so that we can effectively carry out the work," Gupta said.

The BMC has been facing flak for pothole-ridden roads this monsoon as well. "We understand that Mumbaikars are facing problems and they are frustrated. Even we are frustrated," he said.

"There are certain things like rainfall and traffic which are not in our control. We need dry spell to fill up potholes. We need to restrict the traffic movement on the repaired road to let the hot-mix material settle down," Gupta said.