Mumbaikar's cannot escape potholes

There will be no escape from potholes. Civic officials confessed that they have failed in providing good quality roads and there is no solution to potholes till monsoon lasts.

“It’s impossible to fix potholes till we get a considerably dry spell. Every technology experimented with on a trial basis requires monsoon to cease. The moment water seeps into any mixture that has been put to cover a pothole, it starts to erode,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner.

In the last two years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has tried five technologies for fixing potholes — South African technology carbon core, wonder patching, asphalt macadum, smartfill xphalt pothole technology and Matrix.

Recently, an Israeli company also approached the BMC.
“We conducted trials, but it failed. In a week, material used on a few stretches was reduced to rubble,” added Gupta.

“As heavy showers may continue, we are deploying an interim method. Contractors have been asked to use debris, gravel stones and metal to fixing potholes,” said Sanjay Badve, chief engineer, road.

Stretches of road at Kalbadevi, Byculla zoo, Dadar flyover, LBS Marg, JJ flyover, Babulnath Cinema Marg, Sion have become a pain in the neck for civic officials.

The deputy municipal commissioner, along with the project engineers at ward level, inspected the roads under the defect liability period on Monday. It was to identify locations in dire need of repairs. In case of faulty work, contractors will be penalised.

The BMC is even ready to pay double the money for repairing potholes. “The price is Rs980 per sq km of road. But if a company guarantees fixing potholes with the needed DLP, we are ready to pay Rs1,900,” said Gupta.