Get rid of these craters, motorists beg authorities

One can’t see the road for the potholes on the Mumbai Nashik Expressway

After just a few weeks of rainfall, the Mumbai Nashik Expressway has gone from bad to worse in several locations thanks to potholes. Motorists using the road on a daily basis feel that the toll operator should fill the potholes and that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) should look into it.

The Mumbai-Nashik Expressway Limited (MNEL) is the toll collection agency for the expressway and charges a one-way toll of '110. Amid the monsoon, the stretch between Kalyan phata and Nashik has developed potholes at many locations on either side.

The toll road starts a few kilometres after Kalyan phata. On both north and southbound carriageways of the highway, there are small to big potholes. Between Shahapur and Kalyan, the road is uneven at a few more places. It was observed that potholes were being repaired at a few spots.

A particularly concerning part of the problem is that the stretch from Igatpuri to Kalyan passes through an area that receives extremely heavy rainfall. In addition, there is fog on the road between Igatpuri and Kasara. As such, pothole-ridden roads can be especially dangerous for vehicles. Further, there are potholes between Igatpuri and Ghoti toll, too.

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Craters cause jams

Devangshi Haria, a tourist who recently visited Igatpuri, said, "A few days ago, we had visited a resort near Igatpuri and the stretch between Igatpuri and Ghoti toll was a nightmare. The road was uneven and had potholes in several places. I really don't understand why the toll collection agency is charging toll from motorists when the roads are in pathetic shape at several places."

"I travel between Mumbai and Nashik frequently and in the past few weeks, the quality of the road has gone from bad to worse at many places on the highway. It is high time that the toll collection agency carries out repairs. The potholes are causing traffic jams at many places during heavy rainfall," said Shirish Pawar.