Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani has issued stringent directives for civic engineers to proactively identify and repair potholes across Mumbai. The mandate aims to ensure pothole-free roads and smooth commuting for citizens, reflecting a renewed push for urban infrastructure resilience. This proactive approach, including daily patrols and accelerated weekend repairs, signifies a critical step towards improving urban mobility and creating more equitable and sustainable city environments for Mumbai’s diverse population.
During a high-level review meeting held today at the BMC headquarters, Commissioner Gagrani emphasised a paradigm shift in pothole management: engineers are now expected to be proactive, addressing minor road imperfections before they escalate into major issues or draw public complaints. “Potholes must be filled while they are still small. Once a road starts deteriorating, strict action will follow,” he warned, signalling zero tolerance for negligence. This directive aims to reduce commuter inconvenience and ensure that the city’s vast road network remains functional throughout the monsoon season.
To expedite the repair process, the BMC has strategically appointed contractors on a zone-wise basis through a transparent tender process, with actual road repair work already underway. Gagrani has specifically instructed all Deputy Engineers across the city’s 227 electoral wards to conduct daily site inspections. This hands-on approach is designed to eliminate reliance on citizen complaints as the primary trigger for repairs, fostering a more responsive and efficient system.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar further elaborated on the new operational mandates. Each Deputy Engineer has been assigned responsibility for maintaining 10-15 kilometres of roads, with a strict requirement to personally inspect their designated stretches every alternate day using a two-wheeler. This direct, on-ground monitoring is intended to provide real-time insights into road conditions, moving away from desk-bound supervision. “Monitoring from office desks is unacceptable,” Bangar stated firmly, underscoring the shift towards greater accountability and field presence.
BMC officials also highlighted a positive trend, noting that the number of potholes and the annual expenditure on repairs have seen a significant decline since 2023. This improvement is largely attributed to the accelerated pace of cement concretisation of roads, a long-term strategy to build more durable and weather-resistant infrastructure. To further uphold quality standards, the civic body has mandated that potholes on roads wider than six metres must be filled using mastic asphalt only, explicitly prohibiting the use of cold mix. The use of geo-polymer concrete has also been recommended for specific, critical stretches, indicating an adoption of advanced materials for enhanced durability.
Bangar also introduced a technological oversight measure: mastic cookers used in road repairs must now be GPS-enabled and tracked using Vehicle Tracking Systems. This ensures transparent monitoring of material deployment and work progress. Furthermore, the continuous availability of mastic asphalt throughout the week has been stressed, with a particular focus on ensuring ample supply for intensified weekend operations. These weekend efforts are crucial for minimising disruption to weekday traffic, ensuring a smoother commuting experience for Mumbai’s workforce on Monday mornings.
Commissioner Gagrani reiterated the core principle: “Engineers must take full responsibility for their areas. Timely action can prevent citizen inconvenience.” This emphasis on individual accountability and proactive maintenance is critical for Mumbai, a city grappling with high population density and the perennial challenge of monsoon-induced road damage. The new directives aim to transform Mumbai’s roads into a more resilient and reliable network, directly benefiting millions of daily commuters. This strategic push aligns with the broader vision of creating truly smart, gender-neutral, and eco-friendly urban environments, where infrastructure directly supports quality of life and sustainable mobility, moving closer to a zero-net carbon future for the metropolis.
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