Panel formed to tackle bad roads hasn't met in 2 yrs

The committee was formed to ensure that all government agencies/departments looking after various roads in Mumbai unite and discuss solutions for building better and long-lasting roads

Be it the BMC or the state-appointed committees, it appears that nobody is serious about ridding the city of its bad roads. The fact that state government-appointed committee on roads has not met in the last two years to discuss the issue of potholes plaguing the city roads says it all.

Also read: Bring all Mumbai roads under one agency, demand experts

Pothole-ridden Hindmata flyover

The panel was formed by the state to ensure that all the government agencies looking after various roads in the city, unite and discuss solutions for constructing better roads that last longer.

Officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Devel-opment Authority (MMRDA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Public Works Departmemt (PWD) and the Traffic Police Department are part of the committee.

mid-day report on August 8, in which experts demanded the formation of a single body to maintain all roads in the city. File pics

Speaking to mid-day, M V Mirani, former chairman of the Standing Technical Advisory Committee, which advises the BMC on roads, said, “The state appointed a committee, comprising members from MMRDA, PWD, MSRDC, Traffic and BMC, to discuss how to construct better roads and ensure they remain pothole-free.

It was formed more than three years ago. Initially, a few meetings took place. But, for the last two years, nothing has happened. In my view, the committee should meet at least thrice a year once before monsoon, during monsoon and after the rains are over.” The purpose behind forming this committee was to devise a standard protocol for better construction and maintenance of the city roads.

Expertspeak
Transport expert Jitendra Gupta said, “It appears that the committee members aren’t serious about improving the condition of the roads. I believe that the only solution to the problem for bad roads is to put them under the control of one agency, so that all of them are built as per one specified standard.”

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