Mumbai: Week on, potholes back on Aarey Colony roads

Locals said potholes create a lot of inconvenience for motorists. They have demanded a permanent solution to this problem

A week after several roads inside Aarey Milk Colony were repaired for potholes, a few spells of heavy showers washed away all the work, leaving the locals seething in anger.

"When the work started, we knew that the material used to fill the potholes would be washed away in no time. It was nothing but an eyewash. The rainfall over just the past 48 hours has undone everything," said local resident Shahad Yuns.

mid-day visited the 1- to-1.5-km stretch between Aarey market and Royal Palms only to discover about 500 small- and medium-sized potholes. Locals said they create tremendous inconvenience to motorists.

Aarey CEO Hemant Gadwe said, "The responsibility of carrying out the repair of potholes and maintenance of the internal roads in Aarey lies with the Public Works Department. We are in talks with PWD and the issue will be addressed at the earliest so that people don't have to face inconvenience."

Aarey has more than 40 km of internal roads connecting 28 tribal hamlets and 32 units. Every year before the monsoon, many roads are repaired, but there has not been a permanent solution as a majority of them remain pothole-ridden.

Only the main road that connects Goregaon near the Western Express Highway with Marol and Powai is in good shape ever since it was handed over to the BMC.

A PWD official said, "We are temporarily filling the potholes and once the monsoon gets over, all the roads will be repaired."

40km
Length of internal roads in Aarey