Officially, only 334 potholes in Mumbai

Despite the recent slowdown in rain, 334 potholes still remain on city roads, according to BMC data. The number of potholes doubled in the last two weeks due to continuous rain. As of July 16, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had registered 5,814 potholes since the heavy rain began in early July. By the end of July, this number had surged to 11,995. BMC says it has filled 11,661 potholes and is currently working on the remaining 334.

Huge potholes on the Bandra Terminus Road on July 30

The BMC claims to have filled 11,661 potholes, or 97 per cent, and is currently working on the remaining 334. The pothole situation has improved to some extent with mastic trucks now visible on the roads. However, the cold mix is still being used in some areas, which only lasts for about two days," said Dhaval Shah, founder of Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association.

Craters on DN Road, Fort on July 22. Pic/Ashish Raje

Mushtaq Ansari, founder of the non-profit Potholes Warriors, said, "As there has been a dry spell for the last five days, the BMC is fixing potholes at many places. But potholes are still on the internal lanes which come under the jurisdiction of other departments like drainage or ward offices." He added that potholes were seen at the Lucky restaurant junction in Bandra that resurfaced twice in the past ten days. There are potholes at the Dharavi Bismillah Hotel junction, Goregaon-Andheri Link Road and Marve Road.

Mumbai's road network covers 2,050 km, with 990 km concreted by 2022. The civic body started concreting 210 km in January 2022 and approved an additional 397 km in February this year. By February 2023, only 25 per cent of this work was completed. A tender process for the remaining 400 km is now underway.

The pothole-ridden main road of Aarey Milk Colony on July 23. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Due to a delayed monsoon, minimal rainfall occurred in June, with significant rain hitting the city on the night of June 7-8, which quickly turned roads into patchy, pothole-ridden areas. By July 16, the BMC had received over 5,814 complaints and addressed 5,643 potholes, with the number of craters doubling in two weeks. In 2023, the BMC filled 60,000 potholes at a cost of Rs 400 crore. This year, Rs 275 crore has been allocated for
pothole repairs.

11,661
No of potholes BMC claims to have filled