Cleaning up after infra work must be mandatory

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The only entry/exit concrete gate for both vehicles and pedestrians outside a co-operative housing society in Andheri West had been dug up at the beginning of February for cabling work. There was a heavy, industrial metal sheet placed at the gate as work went on below. Cars were able to enter/exit smoothly on the metal sheet.

This colony has five buildings with approximately 150 residents, our report read. The work was over in a few days, and residents expected the gate to be restored to its previous smooth concrete. But, even days later, it had not been re-concreted. Now, though the work has been done by the BMC.

The larger picture, though, is that for several residents it was very difficult to navigate. Big vehicles they claimed like ambulances or fire-fighting vehicles would find it next to impossible to get in. While there has been an impact and the patch outside the gate has been repaired, it has happened after a report appeared in this paper.

Just like we teach children to put away their ‘toys' after playing and clear the room, so it should be with any public work.

Consider it done only after the place or piece of equipment or what have you is repaired, rebuilt and all the surrounding upheaval or mess, if one can call it that, is cleared away and it is back to status quo not, status woe, for those who have to negotiate that space.

We witness work done but a number of pieces and leftovers lying around, still to be cleared or put in their place.

Complete, clean, and clear should be the motto before sign off.