Vijay Deshmukh, a software engineer living in Ashoka Triplex Society, Kalayni Nagar, said, “It was not too long ago that the civic body had carried out resurfacing of the road. And now, they are turning it into a cement concrete road. This is absolute wast e of public money. I have also registered complaint through PMC CARE (Citizen Assistance Response and Engagement), the civic body’s grievance redressal system.“
The PMC’s road department had begun working on a CC road right in front of the Landmark Society, close to The Bishop’s School. The work dragged over a week. Commuters would often get stuck on the narrow road, as just one portion was developed. Besides, residents of the area have pointed to the blatant use of water in these times of water crisis.
Viral Trivedi, a resident of the Sliver Oak Society at Kalayni Nagar, said, “I find it strange of the civic body to take up CC roadwork when the city is reeling under water scarcity. I remember that the municipal commissioner had announced stopping of roadworks and yet this road was surprisingly being developed.“
Like Deshmukh, several other residents have acted against this development by calling up the road department after which the work was stopped. According to a local engineer, a single patch of the road cost more than Rs 20 lakh. The halfconstructed route is more than 500 metres long.
Civic activist Shridhar Galande said, “I do not understand the need of a CC road when the civic body has already repaired the road. The work has been started on a perfectly neat road.“
Rajendra Raut, superintending engineer of the road department, said, “I have issued an order to stop CC road work immediately after objections from local people. Also, we have stopped all new CC roadworks.“
One of the senior officials from the road department said, “We are not in favour of starting CC road work in this crisis situation. But, the corporators pressure the administration into working on it as they fund it from ward development stash. So, it becomes difficult to say no.“
Source : Miiror
