FIFA Under-17 World Cup: Mumbai gets ready, fixes roads that were not looked at for years

Residents say this is a desperate attempt by the civic body to save its face before the FIFA Under-17 World Cup starts from October 7 at the DY Patil Stadium in Nerul.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has a long history of deferring deadlines for projects it initiates. However, the same civic body has fast-tracked all its projects in the past few weeks. From repairing roads to installing streetlights, the NMMC is working round-the-clock to meet the deadlines.

The civic body is determined to finish the project before October 6 so that sports people visiting the stadium do not suffer. (File)

However, residents said this new found enthusiasm is nothing but a desperate attempt by the civic body to save its face before the FIFA Under-17 World Cup starts from October 7 at the DY Patil Stadium in Nerul.

They said maintenance of the Palm Beach Road is the best example of NMMC’s desperation to complete pending projects before the World Cup. A crucial road, the civic body had ignored for the past 10 years. However, with the international tournament around the corner, the NMMC is almost done with finished micro-surfacing of the 9-km road in just 10 days.

Ankush Chavan, additional municipal commissioner, NMMC, said the civic body was determined to finish the project before October 6 so that sports people visiting the stadium do not suffer.

SK More, 45, a resident of Sanpada said, “This zeal to finish work clearly shows that there is no dearth of resources or manpower to complete the civic works on time. What the NMMC is lacks is willpower to take up new projects and complete them on time.”

“We are 100% sure that none of this —good roads, streetlights, signboards — would have happened if not for the World Cup. The NMMC has funds, but lacks strategy utilise it for the benefit of the residents,” said Manish Bhatia, 34, another resident from Nerul.

On a war footing

Potholes on roads leading to the stadium have been filled

Certain areas are being washed using water tankers

Service roads in and around Nerul have been repaired

New toilet blocks have been installed near the stadium

Streetlights have also been installed around the stadium and other locations in Nerul

Signboards have been installed at important signals, bridges and major junctions