243 roads dug up in Khar, Bandra and Santacruz West; many utilities damaged

The project disrupts gas lines, water and sewer systems, leading to contamination

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: The BMC has dug up a staggering 243 roads in H West ward, covering Bandra, Khar and Santacruz West, causing damage to major utilities at multiple locations. Concerns on this were raised by over 120 citizens from 18 citizen groups during an ALM meeting held last week, chaired by Mumbai guardian minister and MLA Ashish Shelar.

The damage done includes the disruption of street lights and gas pipeline connections, water contamination and sewer water flowing into stormwater drains, which in turn is contributing to mosquito-breeding. The situation has exacerbated the already existing troubles of roads being shut, traffic diversions and dust pollution from construction.

The ALMs, which function like a mini opposition and are considered the eyes and ears of the administration, had gradually become defunct over the years. January 25 saw the ward's sixth ALM meeting in six years, a marathon that went on for two hours primarily to discuss the problems caused by the unfettered road-digging. HT had carried a report last month about how Shelar had revived ALMs for improved civic engagement in governance.