Bombay HC orders cash-rich BMC to utilise its money to get rid of potholes on roads

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court ruled that the wealthy Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should use its riches to improve the city's potholed roads and serve its residents. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal has been ordered to appear with them at any time next week by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Madhav Jamdar.

TN City Desk

Updated Sep 22, 2022, 18:07 IST

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Mumbai: On Thursday, the Bombay High Court ruled that the wealthy Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should use its riches to improve the city's potholed roads and serve its residents. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal has been ordered to appear with them at any time next week by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Madhav Jamdar.

A number of petitions about the status of the roads in Mumbai and other parts of the state, as well as the rising number of fatalities caused by pothole-filled roadways, were being heard in court.

"We want Mr Chahal to come meet us on any day convenient to him next week. Till then, he has to, through his officers, get a survey done of the 20 worst roads in Mumbai," the court said.

Chahal must next provide the court with a schedule outlining when bids will be requested for the repairs and when they will be finished.

CJ Datta stated that he had declined to hear a plea on related matters in 2020 when he visited Mumbai following his appointment as the Chief Justice here.

"At that time, I refused to hear it saying the condition of Mumbai roads was much better. But now after two years the situation has changed," he said.

"I don't travel much in Mumbai like others, but you (BMC) see the condition of the road right outside my residence (in south Mumbai) and that is where many VIPs stay. I cannot say come repair the road outside my house," the Chief Justice said.

"We are saying repair all the roads at one go. You (BMC) might not be able to do it. Do it in a phase-wise manner but with some responsibility," it added.

The court also stated that because judges are also citizens, the BMC needs to take action on behalf of all citizens.

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