Mumbai: Even Bappa is not spared of potholes

It was a bumpy aagaman sohla for Bappa this year, thanks to the pace at which the civic body is fixing potholes. Despite assurance from the chief minister to Ganpati mandals last month, potholes at many parts of the city have not been filled. Now, the mandals want the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fill the unattended potholes at least before the immersion.

On August 30, the chief minister had directed senior civic officials to fix all potholes before the festival begins. However, mandals claim that many potholes are yet to be attended.

Naresh Dahibavkar, coordinator of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said that mandals had a harrowing time transporting the idols to mandap. "The civic body has not attended all the potholes despite assurance from the chief minister," said Dahibhuakar. He added that many Ganpati mandals have covered potholes with iron sheets to avoid damage to idols.

As per the BMC, till last week, they had attended almost 80 per cent of potholes complaint. The road department had received 2612 complaints of which it claimed to have addressed 2392 till last week.

Members of Parshiwadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in Ghatkopar (west) alleged that despite their complaints, potholes were not filled in time. "The civic body had started filling potholes from the midnight of September 11," said a senior member of the mandal.

Ravi Raja, Congress corporator and leader of the opposition, said, "Ganpati is one of the major festivals and unfortunately, the civic administration is not showing interest in making it pothole-free."

Despite repeated attempts, chief engineer of the road department of BMC was not available to comment.