BJP fills potholes as mark of protest
In what can be construed as an apparent snub to its alliance partner Shiv Sena in the BMC, the BJP on Friday carried out a major pothole-filling exercise in several parts of the city. The protest episode has left the Sena red-faced in the civic body.
A couple of days ago, newly-elected city BJP president Ashish Shelar had made a scathing attack on the BMC and demanded a special inquiry into the road work in the city. Following this, the BJP activists on Friday came on streets and carried out pothole-filling work in various areas.
The exercise was conducted in as many as 22 assembly constituencies in the city, including Bandra, Worli, Ghatk-opar, Juhu, Chembur, Borivali, Kandivali, Charkop etc. Mr Shelar said, “The agitation was held to protest the callous approach of civic officials towards the pothole-problem. Even the roads in the jurisdiction of MMRDA, MbPT and PWD are in poor condition, for which the state government is responsible.”
He also threatened to gherao the officials if the potholes on the city roads are not repaired within the next couple of days.
BJP group leader Dilip Patel, who participated in the pothole-filling work at Juhu, alleged that the civic administration is spending excessive money on the repairs. “We repaired eight potholes on the Vidyanidhi Marg at the cost of just `8,000. However, the BMC is spending `1,500 to `1,700 on repairs of each pothole,” he said.
However, the exercise by its ally has left the Shiv Sena embarrassed in the civic body. Refusing to comment, a senior civic party leader said, “Ask the municipal commissioner about this, as the BJP has blamed the administration.”
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