BMC rushes to repair, relay SV Road surface

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will repair and relay the surface of the 12-kilometre stretch of the Swami Vivekanand Road (SV Road) from Bandra Fire station to Oshiwara.

Officials of the civic roads department said they have already received the go-ahead from the traffic police for certain patches, and have begun cleaning drains and checking underground utilities to lay the groundwork for the major repairs to follow.

“We are planning to complete the work before monsoon. We have sought approvals for the entire stretch from the traffic department, and are awaiting a reply to start the work on a war-footing,” said Sanjay Darade, Chief Engineer (Roads).

A senior civic official said that work on SV Road cannot be undertaken frequently as it is an important arterial road, and therefore, all concerned departments will have to carry out their works simultaneously while road repairs is undertaken.

“Before digging roads, we also have to carry out de-silting of drains, work for which has begun already,” said a senior official, adding that replacing paver blocks between the footpath and main road will be the road department’s primary focus.

Mohammed Irfan Machiwala, a Mahim resident, said the stretch from Kondor Interiors and Lucky Restaurant on SV Road is in a bad condition. “The stretch has seen a number of accidents as half of it has been re-laid with asphalt, while the other half has been patched up with paver blocks. Roads peppered with potholes have not been levelled. It is the legal obligation of all authorities to ensure pothole-free roads. There is an urgent need to repair the stretch,” said Machiwala.