Mumbai: Two days into 'Make In India' week, roads around venue wearing out

How are we going to convince foreign investors to pump in money and lsquoMake In Indiarsquo when we canrsquot even make a road that lasts more than a week Just two days into the Make In India Week the internal roads around the venue at MMRDA grounds are already wearing thin while paver blocks are peeling off the footpaths even though the entire stretch had been repaired and revamped just last weekAlso Read Short circuit or firecrackers Fire brigade probes cause of Make In India event blazeJust a day after the PM inaugurated the Make in India event at BKC potholes appeared on the road outside the venue PicSayed Sameer AbediThe event began on Saturday and will continue till February 18 witnessing participation from 30 countries Considering it is Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos pet project and several national and international dignitaries are expected to attend the event feverish preparations were made ahead of the mega event midday had highlighted on Friday how potholes were repaired saplings were planted and grass strips were laid at the BandraKurla Complex BKC venue overnight Perhaps the rush job is why itrsquos all falling to pieces nowRead Story Fire at Make in India event brought under controlAs midday had reported a 1km stretch of the venuersquos internal roads were repaired ndashpotholes were filled and a fresh layer of tar was laid to make the road even But the asphalt is already worn through in several spots exposing the underlying layers of gravel and crushed stone powderldquoThe maintenance and repairs of roads inside BKC is the job of MMRDA as we are the special planning authority for the area So before the event roads that were uneven were repaired by relaying the bitumen layer so that people coming to the event can have a smooth riderdquo said an MMRDA officialThese internal roads have barely been used since entry is barred for all vehicles except those ferrying VVIPs Special batteryoperated vehicles have been deployed to ferry the elderly and infirm around the groundsDharmendra Jore column Invest and make for the distressedDespite the recent repairs and the light use since when midday visited the site yesterday portions of the street outside halls 26 and 27 were in bad shape Even the access road for VVIP guests has started to deteriorate The question is how much worse will the roads get by the end of the eventPedestrians also had to hop over sections in the pavement where the paver blocks were coming undone The lush green turf tiles had been laid on the median between roads along with decorative plants but even these are wilting at a few spotsDeputy Metropolitan Commissioner Anil Wankhade said that while he is unaware about the issue he would enquire about the same with the engineering department ldquoIrsquoll have to check with the engineering department if the surface of roads that were repaired has come off within two daysrdquo said WankhadeMMRDArsquos engineering chief Prakash Mamdapure said ldquoWe made the internal roads surrounding the MMRDA grounds a few days before the event I am not aware about the issue and will check with the concerned officialsrdquo