Mumbai Citizens Can Now Claim Pothole Compensation Easily
In a landmark move to uphold citizen safety and civic accountability, the Bombay High Court has established a transparent, legally binding system that allows Mumbai residents to claim compensation for injuries or fatalities caused by potholes, open manholes, and poorly maintained roads.
The court’s order, passed earlier this month in a long-standing public interest litigation, seeks to end years of administrative negligence that have turned Mumbai’s roads into danger zones every monsoon. The court underscored that the right to safe and motorable roads is an integral part of the fundamental right to life, and authorities can no longer evade responsibility.Under the new system, citizens who suffer injuries or the families of those who lose their lives due to road defects can claim compensation directly from the public authority responsible for maintaining that stretch. This includes municipal corporations, the Public Works Department, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.Officials explained that claimants will need to submit evidence, such as photographs of the accident site, medical reports, and police records, to the relevant civic body or district collector. Simultaneously, a copy of the complaint must be sent to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), which will act as a coordinating body to ensure the claim is processed promptly.
A permanent committee on Road Safety and Accountability, comprising civic engineers, legal officers, and technical experts from institutes like IIT Bombay and the Central Road Research Institute, will verify complaints, inspect accident sites if necessary, and recommend compensation amounts. Importantly, citizens will not be required to hire lawyers or approach courts to seek relief.To ensure swifter redressal, the court has set standard compensation amounts ₹6 lakh for fatalities and between ₹50,000 and ₹2.5 lakh for injuries, depending on severity. These payments must be made within eight weeks of the committee’s recommendation. Moreover, the financial burden will eventually be recovered from the responsible officials or contractors through salary deductions, withheld bills, or penalties, ensuring accountability at every level.
Urban governance experts have hailed the decision as a milestone in sustainable civic reform. They note that this measure will not only offer justice to victims but also push agencies to improve road quality, reduce vehicular damage, and promote safer commuting key aspects of building a resilient, equitable, and sustainable Mumbai.The court has also directed the state government and civic bodies to create single-window systems for citizens to report potholes and damaged roads via mobile apps or toll-free helplines. These platforms must include provisions to upload photos and track repair timelines.By institutionalising accountability and streamlining redressal, the Bombay High Court has made clear that citizen safety is not a seasonal promise but a constitutional duty. As Mumbai continues to evolve into a global urban hub, ensuring that its roads remain safe, sustainable, and equitable may finally shift from rhetoric to reality.
