Fix bad roads by month-end: Thane residents write to CM

Last week, these residents staged a protest against bad roads and traffic congestion by taking out their vehicles and blinking their headlights while driving one-behind-another along Ghodbunder Road towards Bhandup.

More than 6,000 residents of Ghodbunder Road in Thane, who earlier started a road commuters’ forum and an online campaign against bad roads and traffic congestion, have now signed a memorandum and submitted it to chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, demanding potholes be immediately repaired by the month end.

Residents of Ghodbunder Road staged a protest against bad roads last Friday by lining up their cars and blinking their headlights while commuting in a single file to Bhandup. (Praful Gangurde/HT)

Last week, these residents staged a protest against bad roads and traffic congestion by taking out their vehicles and blinking their headlights while driving one-behind-another along Ghodbunder Road towards Bhandup.

In their memorandum, the residents’ group has asked for roads to be repaired by August 30, and a special cell — comprising all authorities related to road repairs and citizen groups to be formed by September 3 — to look into their list of demands submitted in their memorandum.

In an earlier online campaign, #FixRoadsElseNoVotes, the residents threatened to not vote in the upcoming state elections if the condition of their roads did not change for the better.

Shilpa Bhat, one of the residents, said, “We have requested the CM to address three issues immediately. First, is to repair the damaged roads by August 30, ensuring there is no recurrence of damage; second, to restrict the entry and exit of heavy vehicles during peak hours; and lastly, find a workable solution for the bottleneck at Kopri Bridge along the eastern express highway.”

The residents also demanded a weekly update on their memorandum.

Human chain protest

Hundreds of Thane residents have decided to make a human chain on September 4 at Anandnagar toll, at 8.30am, to protest against potholes and the worsening traffic situation. The protest is organised by Thane Citizens Forum, Hiranandani Meadows Residents Welfare Association and Hiranandani Estate Residents Welfare Association.