Mumbai: Heavy rains wash out PWD's pothole repair plans on WEH

Heavy rainfall has prevented PWD from repairing this potholed stretch near Magathane in Borivli. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Bad news for Mumbaikars who were waiting for a smooth ride on the arterial stretch of the Western Express Highway between Dahisar and Bandra, as the PWD has had to stop repairing the potholes on it due to the heavy rainfall.

PWD Executive Engineer, SS Deshmukh said, "Over a week ago, we had started the road repairs and resurfacing at various locations on the arterial Western Express Highway, but from the past two-three days we have not been able to do the work, due to the ongoing rainfall."

More potholes
The bigger issue for the authorities is also the new potholes that have showed up on the WEH at many places. The PWD, which has a 24/7 potholes repairing team, has been trying to fill them at many places, but the moderate to heavy rainfall in the nights recently, has made matters go from bad to worse.

The most pothole-affected and uneven stretch on WEH is the south-bound stretch between Kandivli and Vakola. At many places, potholes have also occurred on the flyover.

In the past, mid-day has reported on the repairing work started by the PWD on the WEH, and said that motorists using the arterial WEH have been facing a lot of inconvenience on it, as at many places, the road was pothole-ridden, and added to the problem, leading to traffic jams. The WEH stretch comes under the jurisdiction of PWD, and so it also had to face a lot of criticism from all quarters for the same.

Most pothole-ridden
One of the most uneven stretches of WEH was the south-bound stretch between Mahananda Dairy and JVLR junction, near Pushpa Park-Kurar village. On the north-bound stretch of WEH, the road that has an uneven surface is the stretch between JOG flyover and JVLR flyover. The stretch opposite the Samata Nagar police station was also in bad shape.