While Ganeshotsav is just a day away, potholes on the city roads that will be used to transport the elephant god are in greater prominence, as they threaten to dampen the festivities.
While Ganeshotsav is just a day away, potholes on the city roads that will be used to transport the elephant god are in greater prominence, as they threaten to dampen the festivities.
What is ironical is that the Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, which consists of a number of Shiv Sena officials, has decided to file a petition in the Bombay high court against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is controlled by the Shiv Sena-BJP combine, for the pitiable condition of roads.
The combine, however, is not just blaming extended rains for the potholes but also other state government agencies, accusing them of non-cooperation.
“Nobody should tell the BMC what should be done to get rid of potholes, as it has been our job for many years,” said Rahul Shewale, Sena corporator and chairman of the BMC’s standing committee.
“What about the poor functioning of the MMRDA [Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority]?” he added. “They have a number of ongoing projects — right from the monorail to various flyovers. The roads in those areas are in a worse state, and it is its responsibility to get rid of potholes.”
Shewale also accused the traffic department of not helping. “It is expected that no vehicle should pass on the roads which have just undergone repairs. However, traffic officials do not restrict vehicular flow.”
Arvind Bhosale, Shiv Sena leader from Worli, confirmed that the Samiti does have a few Sena activists. However, the apathy showed by the state government has forced them to appeal in court. “People blame the BMC for every civic problem, but no one questions the functioning of the MMRDA or the MSRDC [Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation],” he said.
MMRDA chief engineer Srinivas Nandargikar denied the allegation, saying the authority has been working in coordination with the BMC. “Only two roads are under the MMRDA,” said Nandargikar. “We are taking suggestions from the BMC. Our engineers are on duty without fail. There is no question of denying responsibility.”
The samiti said the real problem lay not with political parties but with officials. “Chief minister Ashok Chavan on August 28 asked the authorities to start road repairs immediately,” said Naresh Dahibavkar, the samiti’s president. “Even the BMC had given directives to take appropriate action. However, officials are not working up to the mark.”
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