Former BJP corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar, has stirred up some controversy in Mumbai by demanding better accountability for road repairs. After a recent bout of unexpected rain left the city’s streets in a sorry state, Narwekar reached out to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with a bold proposal. He wants to see a dedicated pothole complaint portal set up, along with a real-time public dashboard to keep track of repair progress.
Narwekar’s letter to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani highlighted the perennial issue of potholes, particularly during the monsoon season. He stressed the need for a more efficient system to manage pothole complaints and ensure they are fixed promptly. The proposed real-time dashboard would allow citizens to monitor the status of pothole repairs across the city. It’s a bold move, but will it be enough to tackle Mumbai’s notorious pothole problem?
Penalties for delays in repair work are at the core of Narwekar’s proposal. He suggests hitting road engineers and contractors where it hurts – their wallets. According to Narwekar, they should be fined ₹5,000 per pothole for each day repairs are delayed beyond 48 hours of being reported. It’s a tough stance, but maybe that’s what it takes to get things done in a bustling city like Mumbai. The slow progress of the ongoing road concretisation project in south Mumbai has also raised concerns. With a deadline looming on May 31, Narwekar fears that Mumbaikars will once again have to navigate pothole-ridden roads during the monsoon season. Will the BMC rise to the occasion, or will the city be left to suffer the consequences of inaction? Only time will tell.
