Mumbai: In the past few days, BMC officials of the H (West) ward have been exhibiting uncharacteristic enterprise in examining and fixing intermittent mounds on the road. Officials will tell you that these difficult-to-negotiate tar layers are applied over manhole covers with the intention of keeping them in place and protecting them from theft.
The sudden and unprecedented ardour to level them may have something to do with the fact that they have been frowned upon by none other than the Executive President of Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray. A few weeks back, Thackeray took an uncomfortable ride on the road near Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, thanks to the undulations caused by the tar-covered lids.
"He notified the Standing Committee Chairman Rahul Shewale, who then informed the H (West) ward officer to ensure that they were made level. The contractor must have done a shoddy job. They will be fixed soon," said an official from the maintenance department of the ward.
A S Dhamane, assistant municipal commissioner of H (West) ward said, "I did receive a call from the chairman of the BMC's standing committee, asking me to take some action. I will definitely check the roads in the entire ward, and get the bumps leveled."
Meanwhile, Shewale insisted that the move was not triggered by a message from the Sena leader, but out of consideration for all motorists who were being inconvenienced. "It's not just Thackeray who is affected by the unevenness of the road, but all the commuters who ply on it. This is why Uddhavji raised the issue."
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