BMC fixes metal strips on cover to add traction; movement of lid and road surface alignment issues still persist
The cover after the BMC added metal strips to prevent skidding, on Thursday. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Those who drive on the road towards Lucky Junction in Bandra West are in for a surprise, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has dealt with the deadly metal cover, but only halfway! As several complaints were made over the smoothness of the surface that caused vehicles to skid, which mid-day had also pointed out, the H West has now welded thin metal strips horizontally across the metal cover to provide some traction.
However, this will mostly help only those who drive straight down from SV Road. Taking care of the smooth surface is only half the issue resolved. The civic body still has to come up with a solution for the pothole underneath the metal cover, which gets exposed with vehicular movement, and the raised surface of the cover, which is almost 3-4 inches above the road surface.
Lack of traction on lid would lead to vehicles skidding. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
Mushtaq Ansari, a local who has been raising concerns over the issue for the last few months, said, “Though the new metal strips might help, we are all still worried about that patch of the road, and drive very carefully. Those who drive straight down from SV Road can see the lid ahead and are prepared to drive over or around it. But it’s a gamble for those approaching from Hill Road or Bandra railway station.”
Dharmatejas Prasannadas, assistant engineer, BMC’s Waterworks Department, told mid-day, “The cover will only be removed once we deem that the utility duct under it can be driven over and will not cause any damage, and that will take some time. But till then, we are trying our best to ease the difficulties faced by commuters.”
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