100 POTHOLES, ONE ROAD !!!
Come monsoon and each year outrage erupts among angry Mumbaikars frustrated over the potholes, the new serial killer on Mulund’s roads, which annually kills several people but, tragically, the callous BMC pays no heed!!! In Mulund, the plight of a single road at MHADA Colony in Mulund East is so pathetic that it’s plagued with innumerable potholes! Motorists traveling on the road claim, “It is difficult to analyze whether there are potholes on the road or the road itself is in a pothole!!”
Surprisingly, the road is in a pitiable condition for the past many years, causing immense trouble to both motorists and pedestrians. What is ironical is that the pothole-plagued road is located near Navghar Police Station and the BEST bus depot. Thus, the road is thronged even by government officials. However, despite the government employees too commuting on the road, the merciless civic authority maintaining the road is least moved by the public or the civic employees’ woes!!!
Vijay Khamkar, a resident of MHADA told Home Times, “The road has been in a pathetic condition for the past 5 years, but the civic body has given a deaf ear to our several complaints.” Vijay admitted that road does not come under the jurisdiction of BMC and is owned by a MHADA builder. Vijay informed, “We have been writing complaint letters to both MHADA and BMC, but in vain.” Blasting BMC for not supporting Mumbaikars, Vijay argued, “Agreed, the road does not come under the jurisdiction of BMC but, on humanitarian grounds, BMC must warn the MHADA builder and compel him to repair the road for the sake of the citizens.”
Shattered by the horrifying sight of the pothole-plagued road and the severe hardships faced by the residents commuting the road, Home Times took the grievance of the residents to the BMC T-Ward Road Maintenance Department. However, to their dismay, the officials put the blame on MHADA. In the blame game between BMC and MHADA, the innocent residents of MHADA Colony are in trouble.
Prakash Kapure, a rickshaw diver, told Home Times, “It is very difficult to drive an auto on the pothole-plagued road. Hence, we have to traverse a long distance and travel across the BEST bus depot. This is tiresome and the passengers also complain, but we have no option.” He moaned, “In addition, we have to bear an additional maintenance expense on our auto. And, last but not the least, at the end of the day, our body is so tired that we spend sleepless nights and the next day rush to work. This is proving hazardous to our health.”
A lady, Bharti Sangale said, “The worst affected are little children and senior citizens. Daily, several people are injured but the concerned authority is silent! We have been facing this problem since the past 5 years!”
