BMC receives 65 complaints about potholes

Despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) spending almost Rs40 crore for fixing potholes, there have been about 65 complaints of potholes reported since June 1, of which ten were attended to.

"As monsoon begins, complaints of potholes rise. In case of heavy rains it becomes impossible to fill potholes immediately, which is one of the reasons some complaints are left unattended. While in some cases, the work required to be done is minor in nature and does not call for immediate attention," a civic official said.

As per the data available with the civic body, of the total of 65 complaints of potholes and bad patches, 31 were from western suburbs, 21 from city and 12 from eastern suburbs.

"The complaints about bad patches and potholes are informed to ward officers as we do not have a separate agency for it. If more than ten complaints are received, the work is undertaken on priority basis," BMC's Road Department, Chief Engineer AV Ralkar told PTI here.

Of the total complaints only ten were closed, 48 are still not closed and remaining were not assigned.

"In most cases work is carried out the same day but at times it takes two days also. We would ensure the work is completed soon," Ralkar said.

Of the total of 31 complaints from the western suburbs only one was closed while at five places people were not assigned and at remaining 25 places complaints were only registered.

In the city, of the total 21 complaints, five were closed and 16 were only registered. While in eastern suburbs, of the total 12 complaints, four were closed, one was not assigned and seven were just registered.

In the western suburbs, maximum complaints of potholes and bad patches came from Andheri, Marol Naka, Vileparle, Santacruz and Jogeshwari followed by Bandra and Borivali.

In the city area, Antop Hill, Sion Koliwada, Matunga, Dadar and Charni Road saw maximum complaints and in the eastern suburbs Govandi, Chembur, Kurla and Vashi reported maximum complaints.

Last year, the BMC had spent Rs68 crore on three jet-patching machines that were bought to fill potholes.