Aarey roads deteriorate less than two years after PWD repairs, commuters fear potholes

Roads in Aarey Milk Colony whose surfaces have started to become uneven, giving rise to fears of potholes emerging. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE

Less than two years after the Public Works Department (PWD) repaired and reconstructed internal roads in Aarey Milk Colony following a Bombay High Court directive, several stretches have already started showing signs of deterioration, with uneven surfaces raising questions about the quality and durability of the work.

Spread across around 16 sq km, Aarey Milk Colony is home to more than 60,000 people and includes 27 tribal hamlets, slum pockets, cattle farms, and the Royal Palms area. The affected stretches, including the road between Lotus Lake and New Zealand Hostel, are used by more than 5000 vehicles every day. Residents and daily commuters fear that the uneven surface could soon worsen and lead to potholes.

Shoddy job

The road work has come under scrutiny again. On March 25, 2025, mid-day reported that not only concrete roads constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), but also stretches built by the Public Works Department (PWD) less than six months earlier, had started developing cracks.

HC order

In March 2024, the Bombay High Court directed the state government to repair and reconstruct 37 km of internal roads in Aarey Milk Colony on priority. The direction came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Binod Agarwal, a former Indian Navy staffer and resident of Royal Palms, Aarey Colony. The petition highlighted the poor condition of roads in Aarey, which were riddled with potholes, and sought the court's intervention for their repair.

Local Speak

Sandeep Gadhave, local resident and Shiv Sena (UBT) shakha pramukh
‘In less than two years, some of the reconstructed stretches have already started deteriorating. The road surface has become uneven at several places between Lotus Lake and New Zealand Hostel, and this could soon lead to potholes. The PWD should take strict action against the contractor and ensure that defects are rectified immediately. The situation raises serious questions about the quality of reconstruction work'

Commuter Speak

Wasim A, daily commuter
‘We expected the new surface to last for several years. However, in less than 18 months, the surface has already become uneven at several places. If the road is still in the defect liability period, the authorities should immediately direct the contractor to rectify the defects. Such premature deterioration raises serious concerns about the quality of the work'

‘Will resolve issue'

An official from the Public Works Department told mid-day that the construction work on the Aarey Milk Colony road is scheduled to be completed by October 10, 2026, after which the defect liability period will begin. "Once we have a dry spell after the monsoon, we will repair the uneven road surface," the official said.

When asked why the road surface had become uneven less than two years after construction, the official attributed it to heavy rain and water accumulation. "The upper surface of the road becomes uneven due to heavy rainfall. Water falling from trees accumulates on the road surface, leading to wear and tear. However, we will rectify the issue," the official said.

[popcorn number="5000" desc="No of vehicles that pass road daily" class="Default"]