Ganeshotsav 2012: Bumpy ride ahead for Bappa

With just one day left for devotees to bid adieu to their favourite god Lord Ganesha, the immersion routes are yet to be freed of potholes to give Bappa a smooth ride. Ganpati mandals have alleged that the immersion routes are not maintained properly by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In the run up to the festival that got under way on September 19, the Brihanmumbai Sarvjanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti have identified potholes on the immersion route.

However, the work on fixing the potholes remained unsatisfactory even when the Lord was welcomed on the first day of the annual festival.

Meanwhile, the civic body assured the mandals to repair all damaged roads prior to the immersion day (Saturday). However, visarjan routes like Chinchpokli bridge, NM Joshi Marg and TV Centre Road in Worli, BPT Road in Wadala, Bimbisar bridge and Aarey Colony Roads are likely to give a rough ride to the Lord.

“The BMC has been attending our complaints, but the job still remains unsatisfactory. Non-BMC agencies like MSRDC and PWD have not even attended to our grievances. So, we have asked the mandals to use metal sheets and gunny bags in case of uneven roads during the immersion process,” Naresh Dahibawkar, chief of the samiti, said.

Dahibwakar appealed to municipal chief Sitaram Kunte to take stock of the situation himself. An official from the roads department said, “We have  addressed the complaints. As far as the immersion day is concerned, we will see to it that the mandals don’t face much difficulties.”