PWD and BMC promised to start repair work once it stopped raining, but nothing of that sort has happened as yet
The Western Express Highway has been ailing with potholes and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Pic/Bipin Kokate
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The pothole-ridden roads of the city are just a reflection of the fact that the concerned authorities do not care. And even worse, they do not even bother to fulfill the promises they make to citizens. All they have at the end of the day are some hollow claims.
Sticking to their old habit of not keeping promises, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are yet to start repair work of roads even though it has been a while since the city received rain. They had assured citizens that work would start right away once it stops raining.
The Western Express Highway lies in a pathetic condition with bumpy stretches and potholes between Kandivali and Santacruz. The main and internal roads in Aarey, which are maintained by BMC and PWD, are also in a terrible shape. Facing criticism for the poor condition of roads since a long time, the departments had claimed that work would begin once the weather gets dry. But nothing of that sort has happened till date.
Condition of the Western Express Highway stretch between Kandivali and Vakola flyover is also not quite different. Instead of resurfacing the road, target mixture has been used at some places to fill the potholes, making it all the more bumpy.
“I use the Western Express Highway on a regular basis and I feel that the authorities should stop taking people for granted. The way in which the condition of the roads has deteriorated proves that the officials are not interested in addressing the problem,” says Mayank R, a commuter.
On the southern and northern stretch of the highway between Goregaon and Santacruz, there are atleast three stretches of around 100 to 200 meters where the road surface is uneven. Motorists have to make use of the brake more often due to bumpy rides and it eventually leads to a lot of traffic jam.
The PWD had started the roadwork during Ganesh Puja but then they had to stop midway due to rainfall. “What is all the more shocking is the fact that the PWD officials are aware of the fact that traffic snarls on the southern stretch of the highway takes place because of the uneven and pothole-ridden roads. Instead of resurfacing the road, the authorities have done patch work which is of no use,” said another commuter Ramesh Patel, who frequently travels between Andheri and Masjid Bunder.
The roads in Aarey Milk Colony that come under the jurisdiction of BMC and PWD is not even a tad better. In fact the main Aarey road that connects the part of the highway at Goregaon with Powai is laced with craters. The internal road in Aarey that goes towards Royal Palms from Aarey market is the worst affected. Locals are of the opinion that the complaints made to the CEO office and BMC have fallen on deaf ears.
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