Ganesha to be greeted by 300 new potholes

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has promised pothole free roads for Ganeshotsav, nearly 300 new potholes have cropped up on city roads following the recent showers in the city. They are likely to create to major nuisance in the arrival of Ganpati, city’s favourite god.

Ganeshotsav this year begins from September 17. The BMC had assured city mandals that roads would be reinstated well before the arrival of Ganpatis. However, the intermittent rains since last weekend have resulted in several potholes on city roads.

According to the BMC’s pothole tracking system, there are still 293 pothole complaints left, maximum among them are from western suburbs, which have reported 226 complaints. The eastern suburbs and island city have 47 and 17 potholes respectively.

The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) – an umbrella organisation of city Ganesh mandals – has expressed concern over the emergence of potholes on city roads, with barely a couple of days to go for the festival.

Naresh Dahibavkar, president of BSGSS, said that they would be inspecting city roads to take stock of situation.

He said, “We have asked mayor Snehal Ambekar to take a round of some of the major roads in the city and she has agreed to this. At least the roads, which are used for arrival and immersion of Ganpati idols should be kept free potholes.”

Ashok Pawar, chief engineer of roads department, said that pothole filling works is being carried out regularly. “Instructions have been issued at ward levels to repair potholes at the earliest. Majority of pothole filling has already been done,” he said.