A large pit dug on Mahatma Phule Road in Dombivli West has disrupted traffic near two water tanks, prompting complaints from residents and autorickshaw drivers just days before Ganeshotsav, according to a report by Loksatta –
The excavation is located near Safalya and Radha Dalal bungalows on the stretch between the two water tanks and Shridhar Mhatre Chowk. The report said the pit was dug about two days earlier and has contributed to congestion, particularly when heavy vehicles pass through the narrow road.
Residents have also raised concerns over the lack of clarity about which department authorised the excavation. According to Loksatta, citizens approached officials in the water supply and sewerage departments to identify the agency responsible. An official from the municipal water supply department reportedly said that the excavation had not been carried out by that department, while other departments said they would need to verify the matter.
The road is already used by autorickshaws, dumpers, private vehicles, poclain machines and other construction-related equipment. Construction of new buildings is under way on both sides of the route, adding to traffic movement on what residents describe as a narrow and poorly maintained road. The section between the two water tanks and Shridhar Mhatre Chowk has reportedly not undergone widening or concreting for several years.
The disruption comes as the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation prepares for increased movement during the festival season. Loksatta reported that KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal had directed officials to improve roads and reduce congestion in the municipal area ahead of Ganeshotsav. Residents said the newly excavated section could create difficulties for commuters, devotees and public Ganeshotsav mandals if it is not repaired before the festival.
Local residents had held a protest outside KDMC’s ‘H’ ward office a few days earlier, seeking repairs to the road between the water tanks and Shridhar Mhatre Chowk. They have warned of further agitation if the pit and the underlying water or sewerage lines are not repaired and the road is not restored before Ganeshotsav.
Autorickshaw drivers have also objected to the excavation. Shekhar Joshi, identified in the report as a representative of the autorickshaw union, said drivers could organise a march to the civic body if the pit was not filled before the festival. The union has previously sought repairs to the Mahatma Phule Road and the Anmolnagari road because of congestion and poor surface conditions.
Residents and local representatives have demanded that KDMC identify the department responsible, complete any required utility work and restore the carriageway before the festival period. The report did not include a confirmed municipal timeline for completing the repairs.
