Mayor embarks upon 'pothole tour' weeks before Ganeshotsav

With Ganesh festival just a fortnight away, Mayor Sunil Prabhu had to finally step in on Saturday to cover up for the civic body's failure in curbing the city's ever-growing pothole menace. Alok Deshpande reports.

With Ganesh festival just a fortnight away, Mayor Sunil Prabhu had to finally step in on Saturday to cover up for the civic body's failure in curbing the city's ever-growing pothole menace.

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Pressed by the rising number of complaints, Prabhu went to inspect potholes on roads in Dadar and on the Nana Shankar Sheth flyover. "Wherever there are complaints of potholes, I will go there and inspect the site personally to sort it out," Prabhu said after the inspection. He cited heavy traffic as a major hurdle in filling potholes, but assured that they will be repaired by the civic body before the festival begins.

Fearing what could be a bumpy ride during the festival, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Samnvay Samiti (BSGSS), the umbrella body of Ganesh mandals in the city, had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to at least work on the potholes on the city's main roads, through which the processions will pass. Adding to the city's woes, the continuous downpour in the last two days has increased the number of potholes on the city's roads to 17,453.

Nitesh Rane-led Swabhiman Sanghtana has already threatened to start filling potholes from Monday as a mark of protest against the BMC's failure in addressing the problem.