03 September,2014 07:19 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Despite the BMC taking over the road and beginning repairs more than a fortnight ago, the long stretch between Marol naka and Chhota Kashmir lake is yet to be repaired
Aarey Colony
More than two weeks have passed since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took over the Aarey Milk Colony link road, and began repairing the numerous potholes on it. While the road between the Western Express Highway and Chhota Kashmir lake has been more or less patched up, the long stretch between the lake and Marol naka is yet to be repaired.
Also read: Smoother ride for Ganpati at Aarey Milk Colony
Bumpy ride: Vehicles steer clear of the larger potholes on the Aarey Colony link road on Tuesday. While the BMC is yet to repair older potholes on the road, heavy rainfall in the past few days have already led to new potholes appearing. Pic/Nimesh Dave
The pothole-ridden stretch is causing problems not only to passing motorists, but also to Ganpati mandals making their way from Marol to Chhota Kashmir for visarjan. It should be noted that this link road is notorious for the hundreds of potholes that have plagued commuters all through the monsoon.
As long as the road was under the jurisdiction of the Aarey Milk Colony Chief Executive Officer, there was little to no repair work, as the Public Works Department claimed that Aarey Colony authorities did not provide adequate funds for the upkeep of the road. However, when the BMC took over at midnight on August 18 (mid-day's report, Civic body to end toll collection, begin repair work on Aarey Colony road, August 19), local residents, motorists and Ganpati mandals were hopeful that things would change. Despite beginning the roadwork immediately after taking charge, the BMC has not achieved much, apart from basic patchwork on a portion of the road.
The potholes already regularly lead to traffic jams and the damage of vehicles plying on the road, and they are expected to cause great inconvenience to Ganpati mandals heading to the lake for visarjan on the final day of the Ganpati festival.
Vishal Shah, a commuter who regularly uses the road, said, "Considering Ganpati mandals are going to use this road for visarjan at Chhota Kashmir lake, I had expected the BMC to repair the road properly, but they have just done some patch work. There are still many potholes on the road. Due to the potholes, people going for visarjan have to face lots of problems and carry the idols carefully."
Speaking to mid-day, Additional Municipal Commissioner, S V R Srinivas said, "We have already started repair work on the Aarey Colony road, and it will be completed by Wednesday night. We are using Jetpatcher machines to repair the road."
Meanwhile, in order to manage the traffic flow on the road during Ganeshotsav, vehicles coming through via Marol and Powai, and going towards Goregaon are being diverted to an internal road in the Colony after 6 pm. However, it's hard to say how much of a difference the diversion is making, as the internal road has almost just as many potholes, leading to traffic jams every day there too.
