City Pulse

Monsoons and potholes often appear at the same time in Mumbai. The potholes turn out to be the major indicators of weather change in the city.

“As soon as the monsoon is over, repair work begins on Mumbai roads. But I have seen the same potholes again mushrooming during the next monsoon. The sustainability of these repairs is only 6-7 months. Why can’t the BMC come up with a permanent solution?” questions Sandeep Ray, a daily commuter. 

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is busy repairing roads and waiting for monsoon, a retired attachment of BMC, citizens of Mumbai Vikas Samiti have released a detailed study of Mumbai’s roads. This study, conducted by retired BMC engineers of the Samiti, includes suggestions to improve the condition of roads before Mumbai’s beloved, monsoon arrives this year. The study mentions that the road department of the civic body has analysed the Mumbai roads after the last monsoon and categorised them based on the extent of damage. While 25km of roads required immediate repairs, fewer potholes line another 126 km of roads, and around 93km of road network does not require urgent attention.  

“Another problem is that in Mumbai, all the manholes are on the roads. During the rainy season, it is difficult to distinguish between a manhole and a pothole. Mumbaikars face problems in monsoon due to potholes and after that due to repair works. Is there no end to this?” asks Ray. 

The study observes that increase in vehicular traffic in the last 20 years has caused excessive wear and tear of roads. It states that the road technology used is outdated and that asphalt roads cannot withstand such heavy traffic especially when prone to water-logging during monsoons. 

One of the primary suggestions in the study with regard to avoiding potholes is to convert all major roads to more durable cement concrete roads, which have proper bitumen filling between contractions and expansions to avoid cracking. The new ultra-thin white-top concrete technology by MCGM should be encouraged for road work, experts have said.  

MVS member S N Patankar says they are working towards achieving a pothole-free road network. “Some work will be done by June 2018 to avoid pothole situation in some areas next year. Concrete roads are definitely a solution, but the municipality has been able to lay only 600 km of concrete roads in the last 20 years. All the utility cable and pipe networks underneath the ground make building a concrete road a tough task. However, the work should progress faster,” Patankar says.  

 “We have discussed the report with BMC officials  and will be following up with them about the pothole issue,” he adds.

MVS, however, has a few pointers for the immediate maintenance work which the MCGM should take into consideration, keeping in mind the next monsoon season.

They have listed them as: 

1. Identification of ward-wise pothole problem-areas by the end of the year 


2. Execution of all trenching activities before April 2018, with a ban on unauthorised trenching 


3. Use of proper metal and asphalt mix for filling the potholes by skilled labour 


4. Removal of leakages by damaged water connections, and 


5. Determining proper operational and non-operational timings before opening up of any under construction road to traffic

In the study, MVS has also mentioned MCGM’s new measures taken at the suggestion of different NGOs, citizens and committees. MCGM has decided to do away with paver blocks on all municipal roads and it has now revised its standard specifications for road works and made it simple and transparent. The entire tender process has been moved online. Special emphasis will be placed on the inspection of roads by the vigilance department. New trenching guidelines have been put up in place for speedy approvals and effective supervision. MCGM has also proposed to use early setting cement to reduce the curing period from 21 days to 7 days.

MVS suggests the involvement of local citizens groups and students of civil engineering institutes in keeping an eye on the work being undertaken in their locality and ensuring that the quality is as per standards. The Samiti suggests that “government-citizen partnership” is required for long-term sustenance. 

“We bring out the grievances and report it to the officials, they have to work on it,” said an MVS member. Though the retired lot are geared to improve the standards of transport on Mumbai roads, those in-charge don’t seem to be moved much.  

Worryingly, officials from the road department declined to speak about the pothole problem. "It is the work of each ward to look into their pothole problems,” an engineering official from the road department (eastern suburbs) said.