Potholes are back! Rains reopen craters in Thane & Kalyan

August rains have once again wiped away road repairs in Thane and Kalyan exposing its residents to pothole-ridden roads. While Thane residents plan to start a campaign to shame the authorities, Kalyan residents want their roads repaired but free of paver blocks.

The incessant rains of June and July brought an onslaught of potholes on the streets of Thane and Kalyan. There were several deaths and accidents due to potholes which prompted the authorities to address the issue on a war footing. The civic bodies in these two satellite cities undertook immediate repairs of these potholes to ensure accident-free roads.

"But once again I am seeing potholes on Thane roads and even on flyovers," says activist Kasber Augustine who is also the president of Thane citizens foundation (TCF). Another resident, Manoj Sharma is dumbfounded to find potholes on flyovers. "Except for Manpada flyover I see potholes at Waghbil, Patlipada, Majiwada flyovers to name a few," he says.

With hundreds of Thaneites travelling to Mumbai for work, these potholes are lengthening their commuting time. "It's unfair to spend over five hours commuting when we pay toll for such bad roads," fumes another resident Shomashree D.

Hence, the residents have decided to wage a battle against these potholes and bad roads. "We will get the local artists to paint these potholes to shame the authorities. And also lodge police complaints," says Augustine.

Meanwhile, in Kalyan where potholes have again come to the fore, residents want them to be repaired. "But we do not want paver blocks which are a major cause of accidents on the roads," says activist Shrinivas Ghanekar from Kalyan.