Mumbai
The Bombay high court (HC) was on Friday informed that though a website started by the BMC allows citizens to post pictures of potholes, there is no system that alerts them about whether their grievance has been addressed.
Updated : Feb 01, 2015, 06:20 AM IST
The Bombay high court (HC) was on Friday informed that though a website started by the BMC allows citizens to post pictures of potholes, there is no system that alerts them about whether their grievance has been addressed.
The court then suggested that the civic body form a three-layered scheme wherein citizens can register their complaints either online, on the phone or through social networking websites. The court was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the poor condition of roads in the state and the recent incidents of bikers' deaths due to pothole-ridden roads.
The BMC's counsel also told the court that the website was active only during the monsoon months when the pothole problem is at its peak. This was done because for four months, the work is given to contractors and rest of the time, it is monitored by the ward office. To this, the court said, "Monsoon is not the only reason for potholes. It is a mandatory duty of the civic body to maintain roads." The court also said that if this system is operational, then directions can be given to all the corporations in the state to follow.
A sitting judge of the HC, Justice Gautam Patel had written a letter to Chief Justice Mohit Shah drawing his attention to the pathetic condition of roads. This letter was converted by the chief justice into a PIL and notices were issued to the civic bodies of Mumbai and other cities. The petition will next be heard on February 12.
Potholes repaired by BMC
2012-13: 23,151
2013-14: 37,323
2014-15: 14,076