However, on the WEH, the MMRDA that maintains it, is yet to appoint a contractor for carrying out pre-monsoon repair work
Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent crores on repairing many alleys and footpaths to fix drainage woes, and also replaced paving blocks with tar roads, citizens of the western suburbs believe, even this monsoon, bumpy rides await them, especially on major arterial roads like Link Road and the Western Express Highway (WEH).
On the link road that starts from Dahisar and goes up to Bandra, citizens have alleged that the ongoing Metro works has increased the hardships, and due to this no major repair work on it has been initiated by the BMC either. Construction work for Dahisar-DN Nagar Metro-2A has been on at Link Road since 2016.
However, on the WEH, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) that maintains it, is yet to appoint a contractor for carrying out pre-monsoon repair work.
Harish Pandey, Secretary of New Link Road Residents Forum, said, "Driving on Link Road has been a pain even before Metro work started, as it is always full of potholes. But, these days, due to ongoing Metro work no major repair work to fix The Link Road has taken place."
The BMC has claimed, due to the ongoing Metro work, they have not been able to carry out major repair on the road, saying two agencies cannot work at the same time.
Vinod Chitore, Chief Engineer (Roads), BMC, said, "We have asked the Delhi Metro corporation authorities, who are executing the Metro works on Link Road, to maintain the portions where they are doing work. Later, when the Metro work is complete, the BMC will take a call on whether complete re-layering of Link Road."
In case of WEH, MMRDA claims that it is yet to finalise the tender for appointing a contractor who will carryout pre-monsoon repair works. "We are going to execute pre-monsoon repair works on both WEH and Eastern Express Highway and also desilt the nullahs," said an MMRDA official.
The MMRDA official added, "We have not appointed a contractor for WEH and EEH, but will do the same soon and work will be completed by monsoons."
In 2017, the MMRDA had to cancel pre-monsoon repair works as no contractor showed interest in it citing issue of stone quarries remaining shut in and around Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the BMC is aiming to complete repair work on 510 roads by May 31. However, the deadline may be extended up to June 10.
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