Setting a deadline for completion of road repairs and filling up potholes, the Bombay High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to completed the task by October 31.
No further extension would be given, said a divsion bench headed by Justice Shantunu Kemkar which was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
The PIL was taken up suo motu by the court following a letter written by Justice Gautam Patel of the high court about increasing number of potholes on city roads and fatalities caused by them.
The bench also asked Public Works Department of Maharashtra government and Mumbai Metrpolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to complete by October 31 the repair of roads which fall within their jurisdiction such as highways and freeways respectively.
The bench also asked the MCGM, MMRDA and PWD to file compliance reports separately.
The bench said at the next hearing on December 8, it would give directions and dispose of the PIL.
The high court had observed earlier that Mumbaikars have a habit of suffering silently and ignoring traffic jams and potholes, resulting in accidents.
“The major problem which the city faces during every monsoon is potholes…various agencies dig up the roads but do not restore it properly…Mumbaikars suffer silently and they ignore the traffic jams and potholes,” the High Court said.
The court had also directed different agencies to repair the roads before the onset of Monsoon. However, it could not be done and repair works are still going on.
MCGM counsel Anil Sakhare informed the court today that repair work was in progress and would be completed soon.
He said the Mumbai civic body had set quality parameters for repair work and assured that repairs would be undertaken according to the laid down specifications.
