Temporary BMC repairs fail to smoothen uneven stretch near Andheri East D-Mart, commuters report skidding and long traffic snarls
Paver blocks, which had broken down, forming craters, on Sahar Road in Andheri East (right) The same stretch after mid-day contacted BMC officials about the issue. Pics/Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Two-wheeler riders commuting on Sahar Road in Andheri East have been struggling with an uneven stretch for the past two months, as ongoing construction has narrowed the carriageway near the D-Mart departmental store. With work underway on one side, the two-lane road has effectively been reduced, leading to traffic bottlenecks and frequent skidding incidents, commuters said. mid-day had earlier alerted the BMC about the issue, following which a temporary repair was carried out. However, riders say the patchwork has failed to provide any relief.
Pothole formed due to shifting of divider
When mid-day contacted the BMC’s Assistant Municipal Commissioner Nitin Shukla, he claimed the pothole had formed due to the shifting of the divider. “Since underground water duct work is underway, the divider was removed and moved to one side to prevent making the road too narrow. We have already filled the pothole, but as commuters are still complaining, an inspector will visit the spot and monitor the road for the next few days to come up with a temporary solution, to ensure smoother traffic movement until the duct work is completed.”
Commuters speak
Before BMC’s fix
While most of the road has been concreted, the problematic patch is laid with paver blocks that loosen easily under heavy traffic during peak hours.
Anil Yadav, Daily commuter
Who rides a two-wheeler to work, said shifting the divider to widen the road has created new risks. “Some of the rocks placed along the side are protruding. If we try to move aside, there’s a chance of hitting them, which could lead to serious accidents,” he said.
Mohmad Akram, Local autorickshaw driver
Told mid-day, “In the past few days, I’ve seen many riders skid while crossing this patch as the stones keep breaking apart. We all drive very carefully over the area to avoid any kind of accidents.”
Another auto driver
Recalled a recent incident, “A rider fell right in front of my auto a few weeks ago. Luckily, I was driving slowly, so it did not turn serious.”
After BMC’s fix
Rajesh and Nitesh Gupta, Frequent commuters
Who commute daily on two-wheelers, said the repairs were inadequate. “They covered the pothole, but the fix is so small that it hardly makes any difference. The patch is still uncomfortable and dangerous, and it causes heavy congestion,” Rajesh said, adding that it once took him nearly an hour to cross a 50-metre stretch during evening peak hours.
Nitesh added, “Work that is supposed to finish in 15-20 days often drags on for months. Until it’s completed properly, commuters will keep suffering. We just hope the BMC completes the work soon so we can have a better road in the next few weeks.”
A vendor
Not everyone, however, blames the road. A vendor at the spot said, “If people drive carefully, accidents won’t happen. Many riders try to overtake or speed and lose balance when they hit the pothole.”
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