Citizen groups from Andheri East will closely monitor the work initiated by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for relaying the entire 4.3-kilometre stretch of Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road (AGLR).
One of the most important arterial roads connecting the western and eastern suburbs, the AGLR (from Andheri railway station on the eastern side up to Saki Naka) can qualify for being the worst road in the city, sporting craters throughout and even lacking proper storm water drains and footpaths. The road, which was constructed by MMRDA, was handed over to BMC in 2015 after citizens and elected representatives protested against its lack of maintenance.
“In our first meeting with officials from BMC’s Roads Department last week, we informed them that we would like to be involved in monitoring the work as we do not want the contractors to do shoddy work. Citizens have already suffered enough due to the pathetic condition of the road,” said James John from AGNI, an NGO and co-ordinator of citizen groups in K/East ward. BMC officials have welcomed the move by the citizen groups, he added.
John informed that first they would go through the work orders to understand the entire process being chalked out. Once BMC begins its work, citizens would keep a tab on the way it is being carried out. “We will take photographs and carry out surprise visits. If there is any discrepancy, it will be brought to the notice of BMC for action to be taken,” he said.
As per civic officials, the Rs 130-crore work entails comprehensive repairs of the AGLR from Andheri Metro station to Mithi river in K/East ward as well as work on Jay Prakash Road from Azad Nagar metro station to Versova in K/West ward. “The work will include completely relaying the stretch along with work on Storm Water Drains, footpaths, cross drainage works, road signboards, and lane markings,” said an official adding that the deadline for the work is October 2019.
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 "Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road")
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