No one fined for suburbs’ most pothole filled area

Even as the civic body claims that it has taken the pothole problem seriously and plans to crack down on those responsible for shoddy construction and repair work, it has still not taken any action against the contractors responsible for one of the worst stretches in the city.

Even as the civic body claims that it has taken the pothole problem seriously and plans to crack down on those responsible for shoddy construction and repair work, it has still not taken any action against the contractors responsible for one of the worst stretches in the city.

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Even after the traffic police spotted 277 potholes in Vakola alone – making it the most pothole-ridden area in the suburb – The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not fined a single contractor in the area.

Vakola comes under the H-East ward, which seems to have escaped the notice of BMC officials completely. civic records show that in each and every ward, contractors have been fined for the pathetic condition of the roads, except for the H-east ward, which also includes Bandra (East), Khar (East) and Satacruz (East).

The traffic police has submitted a list of 2,352 potholes, on 315 roads, to the civic body. According to this, Kalbadevi is the worst off, with 510 potholes, followed by Vakola.

Speaking on the inaction , MD Pimpale, assistant municipal commisioner and in-charge of H-east ward said: “We have not yet awarded a contract for repairing potholes. On Friday, Rs46 lakh was sanctioned for this and we will appoint a contract to fill the potholes soon.”

He also claimed that there were only 25 potholes left in the area, as civic employees of the ward were filling them.

However, an official from the same ward, on the condition of anonymity, said: “We are already short staffed. How can wad employees fill potholes in areas like Bandra, Khar and Santacruz.”

Minor roads (less than 30 ft wide) like Vakola are maintained by civic ward offices and they appoint contractors for repairs.