Potholed roads in Mumbai double travel time, expenses

If you have noticed a rise in your monthly expenses in the past month, don’t blame only the recent hikes in fuel and vegetable prices, but also the appalling state of roads in the city, which are ironically made using the tax you pay to the civic body and the state.

If you have noticed a rise in your monthly expenses in the past month, don’t blame only the recent hikes in fuel and vegetable prices, but also the appalling state of roads in the city, which are ironically made using the tax you pay to the civic body and the state.

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With the city’s roads pockmarked with nearly 9,000 potholes since June, your travel time on several major roads has doubled, leading to excess fuel consumption and making your vehicle require more frequent maintenance and repair.

Mark D’souza, 55, has pitched in his yearly bill for car maintenance in just a month since June.

“I have had to send my car for maintenance twice, spending up to Rs2,000 each time, which I usually have to get done once in six months. Flat tyres are common because of the horrible state of roads,” he said.

“One ends up spending so much unproductive time on the road. Potholes are spotted at the entry and exit of every flyover on the Western Express Highway,” said Ashish Limaye, 39, media and communications professional.

Six MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party met metropolitan commissioner UPS Madan on Thursday to express dissatisfaction over potholes.

Madan assured them he would soon appoint a contractor especially for pothole repair on roads under his jurisdiction.