Bombay High Court has permitted the Maharashtra government to carry out urgent repairs on the Chinchoti-Kaman-Anjur-Mankoli Road in Bhiwandi. The 26-km arterial stretch, connecting Thane and Palghar districts, has been described by the court as being in “acute disrepair” and a serious risk to public safety.
The road, a critical connector for Bhiwandi’s warehousing sector and a lifeline for heavy vehicle movement between two national highways, has long been the subject of complaints from residents, transporters, and local organisations. With thousands of trucks plying daily, the poor condition of the carriageway has worsened congestion and made commuting increasingly hazardous. The urgency was underscored recently after a fatal accident involving a commuter who skidded on a pothole. The repair decision comes amid a contractual dispute between the state government and Supreme Vasai Bhiwandi Tollway (SVBT), the private concessionaire originally appointed to maintain the road and collect tolls. The matter was under arbitration, but proceedings stalled after the firm entered bankruptcy. Officials argued that inaction by the contractor had left the road virtually unmotorable, forcing the government to seek judicial clearance to intervene.
Presenting photographs of the damaged road surface, the government pressed its case, citing repeated protests by local residents, social organisations, and transport workers over what they called “life-threatening neglect.” A senior official said the state could not delay works any longer as “public interest and commuter safety must take precedence over stalled arbitration.” According to court records, the road’s repair had been recommended based on a technical report, but only 15 per cent of the work was completed by mid-June this year. The government argued that despite repeated reminders dating back to 2015, the concessionaire failed to meet its obligations, prompting termination of its contract in July.
The high court, while noting the contractual dispute, ruled that essential maintenance must not suffer at the cost of public safety. It therefore allowed the government to step in with immediate repairs while arbitration proceedings continue. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for early September. The order has been welcomed by civic groups and commuters alike, though many remain sceptical about the pace of execution. Local organisations have warned that temporary patchwork will not suffice and pressed for sustainable, climate-resilient solutions that prioritise road durability, drainage, and safety.
The case highlights the persistent gaps in India’s public-private infrastructure contracts, where accountability often falls through the cracks, leaving citizens exposed to risk. For Bhiwandi, a hub critical to the state’s logistics economy, the hope is that this legal green light will translate into smoother, safer journeys for lakhs of daily commuters and transporters.
Also Read : Mumbai Metro 1 Experiences Hour Long Chaos After Successive Technical Snags Delay Services
