We'll fix things, claim agencies

With three days of heavy rain, potholes that were repaired just a week ago, resurfaced to haunt Mumbaiites. Civic officials are now planning to spend another Rs8 crore to Rs10 crore to fill the newly emerged craters.

With three days of heavy rain, potholes that were repaired just a week ago, resurfaced to haunt Mumbaiites. Civic officials are now planning to spend another Rs8 crore to Rs10 crore to fill the newly emerged craters.

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Mumbai's roads are looked after by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Public Works Department and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) while the flyovers on arterial roads are maintained by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). All agencies have failed miserably in keeping city's roads in motorable condition.

Potholes resurfaced on almost all major roads, leading to traffic snarls at several places. The BMC has already spent the Rs40 crore on pre-monsoon repair work and another Rs17 crore were spent within a month after the rain started. "Now the time has come to sanction Rs 8-10 crore more to fill potholes," said a civic official from the road department, on condition of anonymity. Additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta assured that repairs would be carried out in time for Ganeshotsav. Like the BMC, the MMRDA also assured repairs in time for the festival.