‘Thane’s Ghodbunder Road one of the worst nightmares,’ HC seeks expedited action over potholes, traffic jams
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh D Patil was hearing an interim application in suo motu PIL raising concerns over the potholes in Mumbai and other civic areas in Maharashtra.
Observing that the Ghodbunder Road in Thane was “one of the worst nightmares,” the Bombay High Court expressed concern over potholes and traffic jams and sought authorities’ response and expedited action.
The court was also informed that Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has decided to award Rs 6 lakh to the father of a 13-year-old boy who died due to open manhole as per HC directives and an inquiry will be held against the officers concerned. The HC said this should be a “sufficient lesson” for other corporations to ensure that the maintenance work is completed and should not wait till next monsoon.
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh D Patil was hearing an interim application in suo motu PIL raising concerns over the potholes in Mumbai and other civic areas in Maharashtra.
On October 13, the HC noted the poor condition of roads due to civic neglect despite toll revenues. It ordered Rs 6 lakh to families for deaths caused by potholes or open manholes and Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh for injury, with recovery from responsible officials or contractors.
Advocate A S Rao on Tuesday told the bench that KDMC has decided to award Rs 6 lakh to Eknath Kadam for the death of his 13-year-old son Ayush Kadam in open manhole and the amount will be disbursed at the earliest. Rao said KDMC has initiated an inquiry against the persons responsible for open manhole, report of which the HC sought by January 22, 2026.
The bench also issued notice to authorities seeking their response to another interim application filed by city-based lawyer Ruju Thakker seeking their report on compliance of directions issued by the HC in respect of nearly 18 deaths in Thane including those on Ghodbunder Road this year cited in news reports. The authorities include state government, Thane Municipal Corporation, Public Works Department, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Traffic police.
Advocate Mandar Limaye for TMC said the concerned highway patch starts from Anand Nagar and goes till Gaimukh and all such roads are maintained by the PWD and MMRDA and even service roads are merged into the highway.
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“Why don’t you all maintain the places better? You must have barricades, otherwise it is asking for literally an accident to happen. Maybe none may have fatal injury but vehicle is bound to get damaged, people are bound to get injuries. Must have proper barricades at least. You ensure that before next date of hearings, barricades are put,” Justice Mohite-Dere orally remarked.
Thakker also highlighted that there were six-seven hours regular traffic jams on Ghodbunder Road and ambulances were not able to reach hospitals due to same. “Even from Uttan (which has Maharashtra Judicial Academy), where we travel, it is impossible to reach toll naka and roads are bad,” Justice Mohite-Dere remarked.
Justice Patil went on to add, “Ghodbunder Road is one of the worst nightmares. You all know that. This is one of the major roads where all commercial vehicles ply. They ply because it is a major link to Thane, Mumbai, Nashik, Gujarat. Still you (concerned authority) don’t maintain it? The government should look into it.”
“Why don’t you all (authorities) expedite the process? We appreciate efforts taken, as a result we are satisfied that at least there is a start and one person has been awarded compensation and now we expect 3 to 4 others to follow suit and ensure it is done expeditiously. We do not have to wait till next monsoon. This should be sufficient lesson for corporations to ensure the work is done on time,” Justice Mohite-Dere said and posted further hearing to December 15.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
