MNS digs up pavement outside Mantralaya to protest potholes on roads in Mumbai, rest of state

The Marine Drive police have arrested six Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers for the damage.

Hours after ransacking the public works department office in Navi Mumbai, workers from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) damaged the pavement outside Mantralaya in south Mumbai as a protest against the poor condition of roads across Maharashtra.

MNS workers dug up the pavement outside Mantralaya around 3am on Tuesday. (Photo: MNS)

The Marine Drive police have arrested six MNS workers for digging up the concrete tiles used to lay the pavement with pick axes and hammers, and throwing the debris on the road, around 3am on Tuesday.

“We have arrested the men for unlawful assembly and for damaging public property,” said Vilas Gangawane, senior police inspector of Marine Drive police station.

Worker repair the footpath outside Mantralaya on Tuesday. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Defending their action, MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande said: “The government acted so quickly against us, but when will it arrest those responsible for the potholes across Maharashtra?”

The potholed roads in Mumbai and its surrounding areas have led to several road accidents and deaths, leading to public outrage. On Monday, MNS workers ransacked the PWD office in Turbhe to protest against the pathetic state of the arterial Sion-Panvel highway, an entry point to Mumbai city, which has led to huge traffic snarls.