More accountability needed in defective road work

From Day 1, there have been several accidents on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road

As he inaugurated the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) on August 1, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had remarked on its uneven surface. A month later, those reservations manifested in the worst possible way.

A two-wheel pillion rider died after the two-wheeler on which he was on skidded on the GMLR. The main rider is hospitalised.

This paper's extensive report has people, many of whom use this bridge regularly, post completion of work, say that the bridge is faulty. The quality of the road has a big question mark hanging over it. The report cites at least eight major accidents between August 4 to August 30, a very poor track record.

It is shocking that this was not addressed earlier and the re-done bridge closed off, when one could clearly see there is a quality deficit. If the chief minister himself could see something was wrong, a layperson when it comes to technical expertise, then why were the experts or those responsible still not moving on re-doing or stopping access to all till all problems were addressed. At the very least, they could have stopped two-wheelers from using the stretch.

This is yet another example of shoddy work claiming a life. There may be statements like some people were riding too fast. That, however, does not explain the rash of mishaps on this stretch. The work of levelling this road has started but it has taken a huge tragedy to spur the authorities into action.

One can now hope for some compensation for the suffering family, and the repair work has to be top class otherwise we fall into the same trap again, coming full circle to where we started. This is an abysmal and, to use a strong word, criminal dereliction of duty from all those responsible. We hope to see accountability and action on those responsible.