Ahead of the monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set the ball rolling on its monsoon preparedness activities. To get Mumbai’s roads rain-ready, the BMC has identified 618 roads and 320 junctions to be repaired before the monsoon kicks in. The civic body has issued work orders to all seven civic zones in the city this week, and the deadline for making roads pothole-free is set for May 31.
The total estimated work cost is Rs 273.64 crore. While road repair work constitutes a major part of the BMC’s monsoon preparedness plan, the civic body, however, is criticized every year for missing its deadlines.
“Tenders have been passed zone-wise recently, and work orders have been issued. The wards will prioritize roads, that need to be repaired before the monsoon. Although the Priority-II list includes 938 roads and junctions, all the roads cannot be fixed within a month. We will repair the maximum number of roads possible, and the rest will be carried out after the monsoon,” said a civic roads department official.
In its Priority-I list, the civic body had identified 110 roads and junctions, for which the work began in February. Until April 5, of the 110 roads, work on 25 roads was in progress, work on 37 has been completed and 73 road repairs are yet to be taken up. The work cost for the Priority-I road work was Rs 68.32 crore.
Despite carrying out priority road repair works, commuters have had to bear with bad roads every year.
“Every year during the rainy season, the roads in Mumbai are in a bad condition. It not only creates traffic jams but also causes accidents. Since the BMC spends a hefty sum on repair work for roads, we expect pothole-free roads this monsoon,” said Ajay Shete, a resident of Chembur.
