- Twinkle Mehta
- Civic
In Mumbai, despite budgetary provisions being allocated every year for road repairs during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) budget sessions, citizens continue to complain about the problems caused by potholes—especially during the monsoon season.
It is well known that Mumbai’s monsoon significantly increase the risk of road accidents due to multiple factors, including poor visibility of road signage, waterlogging, dug-up roads, and potholes. However, despite recurring concerns, there has been no long-term, concrete solution to the problem.
Road Accidents Due to Potholes
At times, potholes are so large that they lead to serious accidents. To address this issue and improve road quality, the civic body has undertaken repairs works across several roads in the city.
According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in 2019, Maharashtra recorded over 1,100 road crashes (1,186) during the monsoon season, resulting in nearly 400 fatalities. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and reduced visibility pose severe risks to commuters on Mumbai’s roads. These challenges were compounded in 2021, when the city experienced heavier-than-usual monsoons due to climate change impacts and Cyclone Tauktae, which hit Mumbai in May.
Meanwhile, as per a data recovered from the Maharashtra Traffic Police indicates that road accidents in Mumbai have increased by 15% between 2020 and 2021, based on figures from January to June.
Cold-Mix Technique
Experts suggest that the cold-mix technique can be used to fill potholes effectively. It is manufactured at the BMC’s Worli plant and distributed based on demand. In 2021, approximately 3,218 metric tonnes of cold mix were supplied across all 24 municipal wards, amounting to nearly 12,074 bags.
Funds Spent on Beautification Instead of Roads
While the civic body has been renovating dilapidated structures and upgrading tourist spots across the city, the persistent issue of potholes remains unresolved. Many Mumbaikars believe that the BMC is prioritising beautification projects over essential road maintenance, leading to inefficient use of both human and financial resources.
Large Provision for Road Repairs
The BMC’s Roads and Traffic Department, along with initiatives such as cement concrete roads and new bridges, aims to improve the overall ‘ease of commute’ in the city. The civic body is currently undertaking infrastructure projects on an unprecedented scale. Capital expenditure on infrastructure works stood at nearly ₹16,800 crore in 2021–22—almost double the amount spent annually on infrastructure three years earlier.
Is the coastal road more important than basic normal Road Safety?
In the 2022 Budget Session, the municipal corporation allocated INR 3200 crores to the ambitious Coastal Road, while INR 2200 crores to roads and traffic operations.
Overall, capital expenditure of ₹22,647 crore was allocated for infrastructure-related projects, including drainage systems and water supply.
When will Mumbai become a Pothole-free City?
Reports claimed that 51,691 potholes have been filled so far since April 2021. Along with this, a special drive was conducted to reduce the number of potholes caused by incessant rains. Later, the civic body reported that 7,594 potholes were filled in 15 days.
This raises a pressing question for Mumbaikars: when will Mumbai finally become a pothole-free city?