BMC to fix potholes across city ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi
BMC officials said that a map of the route — via which organisers take out processions during arrival and immersion ceremonies — will be drafted, and based on this, the pothole filling work will be taken up on war footing.
An idol of Lord Ganesh is packed with thermocol for being transported from a studio in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI)
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Ahead of Ganeshotsava, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to conduct a drive to fix potholes on several major and minor roads — which records heavy influx of devotees and vehicles during the festival — across Mumbai.
BMC officials said that a map of the route — via which organisers take out processions during arrival and immersion ceremonies — will be drafted, and based on this, the pothole filling work will be taken up on war footing. BMC in July this year floated a Rs 36-crore tender for filling potholes across the city.
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P Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner (Projects) said that no fresh funds have been allocated for the drive, and the entire pothole filling work would be carried out under the last work order that BMC had awarded for filling the potholes on Mumbai roads. Mandals across the city will start bringing in idols starting September 10, for the 10-day festival which begins from September 19 this year.
“More than 60 per cent of the Ganesh mandals are in the suburbs, while 40 per cent in the island city. Therefore, it is important to keep these roads intact on a motorable condition as the presence of potholes might damage idols while being carried to their destinations on handcarts, matadors, and open roof vehicles,” said an official, civic roads department, adding that roads in areas like Lalbaugh, Parel, Ville Parle, and Andheri — which houses several mandals — would be under strict surveillance.
BMC officials also maintained that mastic asphalt would be used for filling the potholes, and a nodal officer has been appointed to oversee operations in each of the 24 municipal wards.
“The pothole filling work will be taken up on war footing, and routine checks will be carried out to ensure that the roads are not being damaged by ganesh mandals, while erecting barricades and pandals,” according to the official. Earlier this week, the civic body had said that a fine of Rs 2,000 per pothole would be imposed on management committees found damaging roads of Mumbai while erecting barricades for the festival. It is pertinent to note that this year, BMC is set to spend over Rs 100 crore — nearly 25 per cent more against the amount spent last year — for filling the potholes.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
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Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
