They are just as bad as BMC

It’s not just the civic body that is lackadaisical about the state of the city’s roads, the attitude of state bodies such as the public works department (PWD), the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is just as bad.

It’s not just the civic body that is lackadaisical about the state of the city’s roads, the attitude of state bodies such as the public works department (PWD), the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is just as bad.

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After the state’s 48-hour deadline on August 10, all agencies promised roads would be pohtole-free in a week. The continuing sorry condition of the two highways is proof the PWD’s neglect.

On the Eastern Express Highway, the stretch adjacent to Suman Nagar in Chembur is badly affected and uneven.
Similarly, the busy Mahul Road, which leads towards Vashi Naka in Chembur, continues to have crater-sized potholes. It is maintained by the MMRDA.

Another MMRDA road - JP Road in Andheri (West) – is in a dreadful state, made worse by the metro work. With potholes, construction and traffic jams, it is a nightmare for commuters.

On the Western Express Highway, stretches outside the Hub mall in Goregaon and that leading to the domestic airport are in abysmal condition.

When questioned, all maintaining authorities offer the standard response: They promise immediate action and speedy repairs. “The BMC dug the road to install water lines early this month but as we maintain the road, we are covering the water lines,” said RS Shinde, executive engineer (Western Express Highway), PWD, about the bad stretch in Goregaon.

“I visited the [Chembur] site on Friday and found small potholes and uneven surfaces, but repair is in progress,” said Rajendra Javnjal, executive engineer (Eastern Express Highway) PWD.

“We will take up the repair work on priority basis,” said Dilip Kawathkar, project coordinator, MMRDA, on the state of JP Road and Mahul Road.