Three weeks ago, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had announced that all wards would repair bad patches and potholes on roads that are less than 9-metre in width within their jurisdiction. However, ward officers claim the civic authorities have been tight-lipped about the issue since and haven’t sent any written instructions despite the monsoon being just around the corner. Corporators allege that this is to maintain secrecy on new road contracts being awarded as contractors refused to undertake repair work.

Every year, the 24 ward offices have the responsibility of repairing potholes on all roads in their respective wards, except for cement concrete roads, the roads that are under the defect liability period (DLP) and roads being constructed by contractors. Last year, the ward officers faced the ire of citizens as almost every road developed potholes and the ward offices ran out of material as well as funds allotted for the repairs.