Potholes: CM's pothole diktat falls on deaf ears

Despite the considerable dry spell, road repair work on potholes is far from over.

With Ganeshotsav festivities on, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had demanded urgent road repairs for the smooth procession of Lord Ganesha. All the Ganesh mandals met the CM on Wednesday, following which he gave the 48-hour ultimatum.

However, although the 48-hour deadline lapsed on Thursday night, the city’s pockmarked roads lie in no better condition.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has more 164 pothole locations to be fixed. A majority of the impending work lies in the western suburbs with over 85 pothole locations lying unattended. The island city has the second highest figure with 53 potholes locations, while in the eastern suburbs around 23 pothole locations have been identified.

The Public Works Department (PWD) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development are no less culpable. Varied patches along the Western Express highway, Eastern Express highway and the Sion-Panvel highway are marred with potholes. King’s Circle flyover, Sion flyover, Navghar flyover, Lalbaug flyover and JP Marg which are under the MMRDA’s jurisdiction, have yet to be repaired.

“We have given our staff directions to finish the remaining work as soon as possible. If the weather conditions continue to be in our favour, the task of filling the potholes will be completed in 24 hours,” said a senior civic official.