When will we have a permanent solution to potholes?

Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

A week after several roads inside Aarey Milk Colony were repaired because of the potholes, a few spells of heavy showers washed away all the work. Angry locals claimed that the material used for filling potholes have always been substandard, and now, the results are there for all to see.

This paper's reporters visited the 1- to-1.5-km stretch between Aarey market and Royal Palms to discover about 500 small- and medium-sized potholes.

Those unfamiliar with the topography of the area will be interested to know that Aarey has more than 40 km of internal roads connecting 28 tribal hamlets and 32 units. Every year before the monsoon, many roads are repaired, but there has not been a permanent solution as a majority of them remain pothole-ridden.

Only the main road that connects Goregaon near the Western Express Highway with Marol and Powai is in good shape ever since it was handed over to the BMC, the report said.

We see wastage of funds and time, over the pothole problem across Mumbai. One simply cannot understand why a country which has launched mission to Moon, is unable to find a material that will fill potholes and the road does not fall apart year after year but stays that way, permanently.

Locals are justified in spewing ire, but now that they know about the pothole-riddled stretch, they must exercise a lot of caution while driving through it. Slow driving and vehicles in great condition, especially the brakes are vital at all times, but more so during the monsoon and traversing roads like these.

The onus on complete and lasting repairs is on the officials, but people should be careful and vigilant simply because they know that after showers means we are back to square one.