Despite reminders, PWD has not fixed roads: traffic police

Potholes along the 300 meter southbound stretch just after the Andheri flyover on the Western Express Highway have been inconveniencing motorists ever since the rains set in this year, with traffic backlog extending to several kilometres.

Potholes along the 300meter southbound stretch just after the Andheri flyover on the Western Express Highway have been inconveniencing motorists ever since the rains set in this year, with traffic backlog extending to several kilometres.

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However, despite repeated reminders to the Public Works Department (PWD) by the traffic police, commuter grievances only seem to get worse by the day.

An official from the Vakola traffic outpost said they had been writing to the authorities concerned since June to repair the stretch at Vile Parle, however, no work has been done. At least eight to 10 reminders have been sent to the PWD about the same, he said.

“Ambawadi in Vile Parle on the Traffic officials claim that they have send 8 to 10 reminders to the PWD to repair a 300m stretch after the Andheri flyover

They have offered to close the road at night to ensure that the PWD can finish its work

PWD officials said rain was damaging the roads, and the repairs would be done by Friday.

WEH, the area with the elevated road diversion, has at least 20 potholes. Hanuman Road nearby has at least 15 huge craters.

During this monsoon, travel time has increased by an hour due to bad condition of the roads,” said PP Temkar, senior inspector, Vakola traffic police.

Traffic officials from the Vakola traffic outpost complained that no repair work was done despite reminders to the PWD.

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial roads in the city, the Public Works Department (PWD) maintains highways while the Maharashtra State Road Development Authority (MSRDC) looks after most of the flyovers in the city.

“We have even offered to close the stretch at night when there is minimal traffic so that they can finish work, but the PWD has not been forthcoming,” said Temkar.

PT Bachav, junior PWD engineer who has been allocated the job to fill the potholes on the stretch, said the rain was hampering their work.

“We are trying our best to fix the potholes on the stretch, but the road keeps getting ruptured time and again. It will be fixed on Friday.”