Scrap seven-fold hike in pothole fines: Mandals

The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, an umbrella body of Ganpati mandals from across the city, on Sunday urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to scrap the recent hike in penalty for potholes near Ganpati pandals from ₹2,000 to ₹15,000 per pothole.

- Linah Baliga

The hike will place unreasonable financial burden on organisers of the festival and leave them susceptible to penal action, said advocate Naresh Dahibawkar, chairman of the Samiti which represents around 2,000 Ganpati mandals.

“Such strict enforcement is not there even for contractors who construct poor roads,” said Dahibawkar. “We will follow up with both the BMC and the state government to seek cancellation of the fine.”