Anger as road repairs lead to jams; work to be in phases

It's that time of the year when road repairs in the city are going on in full swing. However, of the massive Rs 2,210 crore worth of work approved by BMC's last standing committee for 815 road repairs, only 450 have begun. These include major, minor roads and those in Mhada layouts.

- Richa Pinto

Civic authorities said the beginning of all work that had been tendered was not possible. "Traffic police permission will be difficult to get for starting work, so we have begun it in phases," said a civic official. But residents are complaining, saying that dug-up roads are forcing them to take detours. With offline colleges and schools having begun too, many parents and students are forced to leave early as traffic comes to a standstill at certain junctions. Suheil Merchant, an Andheri resident said, "Lallubhai Park in Andheri (W) is crazy. The back road of SV Road, which has an exit below Vile Parle (East-West) flyover has been completely dug up too. The traffic jam is forcing me and my family to leave 15-25 minutes early to drop and pick up my daughter from school, which is at Dadbhai Road in Vile Parle."