Those working in Elphinstone Road's business hub have to wade through ankle-deep water filled with garbage on their way to and from the nearest railway station
Pedestrians can't avoid the road, as the only other option they have is three times longer than this route
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A 10-metre-long road that connects the business hub of Elphinstone Road to the nearest railway station has turned into nothing less than a stinking hell for pedestrians. With the city witnessing continuous rainfall for the past couple of days, those working at IndiaBulls Finance Centre and Naman Midtown have to wade through ankle-deep water full of garbage, and negotiate gaping potholes on their way to and from the station.
Balancing act
"The pothole-ridden road, which is full of garbage, has become a nightmare. One has to literally jump from one stone to another, kept along the side of the road, to avoid slipping into the stagnant water," said Nina Taraporewala, a private firm executive.
Yatharth Ratadiya, who works in the same area, said there was no outlet for the water to go into and drain away, and hence, it was slowly becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. "The only other option we have is to take the route under the Elphinstone flyover, which is three times longer, not a practical option for those who have to rush to office."
It's railways' property
Within minutes of receiving a call from mid-day, Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner, G south ward, sent sub-engineer Sashank Thakur to the spot for a quick inspection. "As the road falls under the railways' jurisdiction, BMC's funds cannot be used to repair it. Even then, we will take all possible steps to ensure that pedestrians are not inconvenienced," he assured.
Thakur, who reached the spot within 20 minutes, met some of the railway officials along with a group of aggrieved pedestrians.
Anil Gupta, station manager, Elphinstone Road railway station, said he had informed the civil engineering department, and a team would visit the site soon to fix the problem.