The unexpected downpour this monsoon has dampened the BMC’s spirits as it exposed its inability to tactfully deal with the pothole menace in the city.
The incessant rains this year have left the city’s roads in shambles, with the civic pothole-tracking system reporting close to 18,000 potholes (17,956 to be precise) till now. Of these, the civic body has only attended to 15,451 potholes.
The BMC now plans to find a foolproof solution, which will enable it to complete the task of repairing the roads before the monsoon season next year. Additional municipal commissioner S.V.R. Srinivas said, “This year, we hope to expedite the process of awarding tenders for road repairs so that the dry season is used to lay and repair roads. We want the roads to be ready way before the next monsoon begins.”
According to Mr Srinivas, the process of allotment of work orders and road repairs will start by December. This will provide enough time to contractors to repair the roads.
This year, the road repair work, undertaken by the BMC, went on till as late as the first week of June. Unfortunately, Mumbai witnessed heavy downpour in the second week of June, leaving almost all roads in a bad shape.
According to experts, the BMC should not allow asphalting after May 10 because it takes two to three weeks for the asphalt to settle before the monsoons arrive.
Mr Srinivas said, “We will try to make sure that all the budget estimates for road works are made by September and tender process and work orders are given by November. This will enable us to start work in December. We will try and complete most of the work by May so that the city’s roads are ready for the monsoon.”