Ganeshotsav nears but mandal applications pending, potholes yet to be repaired

Just four days ahead of Ganeshotsav, at least 1,318 out of 2,176 applications submitted by Ganesh mandals are still pending and work on filling and repairing potholes is also yet be completed.

Ganeshotsav starts from Monday and the civic body has rejected 378 applications already for want of proper documents and required eligibility for erecting pandals. "Until now, only 480 mandals have been given permissions by both the BMC and police department. While the civic body has cleared most of the applications and there are only 168 pending with it, the police department is yet to decide on 1,150 applications.

While the police department has to check law and order issues along with other required criteria to issue permissions, even the traffic department has to physically check the pandal along with the Mumbai Police before giving nod.

The applications rejected have been due to various reasons, such as insufficient information and absence of documents; many are pending for non-payment of requisite charges, including NOCs from the police and traffic departments.

"The procedure to give permission is on and it will be done before the festival starts," said Mumbai police spokesperson and deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dudhe.

Also, the BMC is yet to fill potholes before the festival starts. As per its records, as of August 31, there are 114 potholes, out of the 3,962 potholes reported until now, yet to be filled.

BMC data confirmed that 38 potholes are remaining in the island city out of the total 1,080 reported, 52 are remaining to be attended to in the western suburbs out of 2,024, and 24 potholes are remaining in the eastern suburbs out of 858.

The civic administration claimed that the roads department has asked contractors to do the job 24x7 and smoothen the roads before Monday.