‘Mumbai-Goa way will be pothole free by September 5’

Mumbai: The state government and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) informed the Bombay high court that all the potholes on the Mumbai-Goa highway would be filled up by September 5.

The Bombay high court reiterated that having sound roads are a constitutional right of the citizen and asked the state and NHAI to submit a progress report on September 10.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagala was hearing a PIL filed by Owais Pechkar, who is a lawyer by profession and a resident of Chiplun. Mr Pechkar alleged that there are thousands of potholes on the Mumbai-Goa Highway and there are chances of accidents.

On the last hearing the court had directed the NHAI and the state government to filed affidavits stating by when it would repair the highway. In their affidavit, both state and NHAI said it would complete repairing of potholes and make the highway traffic smooth by September 5.

NHAI counsel then  informed the court that extension work of Mumbai-Goa high way is being carried out and it will be completed by June 2019. To which court said, “Petition is filed for filling up of potholes not completion of extension work.” The court accepted the statement and asked both to file compliance report on September 10.