In a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Gateway of India, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday officially launched beautification works in the city. He also promised that Mumbai will be pothole-free in the next two years. By repairing and resurfacing the roads, they will last at least 30 years, he said. The BMC has already started the Rs 2,000-crore beautification work across the city. It will divert Rs 250 crore from the contingency fund for the beautification.

After the new government took charge in July, Shinde had instructed the BMC to start beautification projects across the city. All the 24 ward offices, along with various departments,  floated tenders worth Rs 2,000 in the past two months and awarded contracts. The work has already begun in wards all over the city. The beautification work includes resurfacing of roads, fixing dividers, footpaths, street furniture, paintings on bridges, beautification of seaface and gardens, Miyawaki plantations, toilet reconstruction, painting of walls in public areas, etc. So every ward is seeing works such as resurfacing of roads or installation of refurbished streetlights, potted plants along streets, etc.