Citizen audits to help BMC tackle pothole menace

In a unique initiative, citizens, corporators and the civic body have joined hands to keep the city’s roads pothole-free.

In a unique initiative, citizens, corporators and the civic body have joined hands to keep the city’s roads pothole-free.

HT Image

The initiative involves the residents reporting unfilled potholes and uneven roads in their neighbourhood, monitoring the progress of work by the ward staff, and conducting social audits of their areas with the help of corporators.

On July 28, HT had reported the findings of a three-day test run to assess the newly launc-hed pothole tracking system. Of the 17 complaints registered, eight remained unattended even after three days, showing that there are delays in both the assigning and filling of potholes.

The pilot project will be undertaken in the H-west ward comprising Bandra, Khar and Santacruz, and efforts are on to rope in citizens and corporators from all 24 municipal wards.

“Corporators will choose a sample road in their area. With sustained efforts and cooperation from citizens and ward officials, we will convert it into an ideal road without potholes,” said Asif Zakaria, corporator, H-West ward. “We will then adopt strategies to maintain other roads,” he added.

Civic authorities have welcomed the move. “It is good to see citizens coming forward to monitor the roads and work with the ward staff. If these social audits are conducted by citizens in all wards, it will strengthen the process,” said GM Aggarwal, acting chief engineer (roads).