Selfie with potholes: VVMC gets 1,097 responses, but menace continues to haunt commuters

According to the VVMC officials, the WhatsApp number received selfies from various roads in Vasai, Nalasopara and Virar. Of the three areas, more than 50% of the photos they received since July 25 belong to several locations in Nalasopara, they said

Mumbai: Responding to the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation’s (VVMC) ‘selfie with potholes’ initiative, citizens sent 1,097 photographs, however, they complained that potholes continue to pose a challenge to them.

Selfie with potholes: VVMC gets 1,097 responses, but menace continues to haunt commuters

Commuters said that the potholes have made travel extremely risky as in the past 10 days at least 12 motorcycle riders and pedestrians have landed in hospitals after falling in potholes.

To deal with the pothole menace, the civic body started a WhatsApp service 7719050888 in the last week of July urging the citizens to send selfies and photographs with potholes along with the location.

According to the VVMC officials, the WhatsApp number received selfies from various roads in Vasai, Nalasopara and Virar. Of the three areas, more than 50% of the photos they received since July 25 belong to several locations in Nalasopara, they said.

Taking this opportunity, Ravi Bhushan of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) travelled on various roads in the region clicking photos and selfies with potholes and sending them to the VVMC. “The bad condition of the roads is the result of shoddy work done by the contractors. The roads could not even withstand a few days of monsoon. The VVMC is responsible for awarding the construction of the roads to corrupt contractors,” Bhushan said, adding that potholes can pose a risk to motorists if not repaired at the earliest.

Paresh Bhoir, 22, a bike rider, received 15 stitches after his two-wheeler skidded due to a pothole near Dwarka hotel in Vasai, said, “I was about to get crushed under the tyre of a truck approaching me from behind. As the driver slammed the brakes, the truck stopped 10 metres away from me.”

Bhoir, who had to undergo surgery after his wound developed complications, said that the VVMC should have compassion and repair the roads at the earliest so that people do not end up with injuries.

Like Bhoir, Vishwadhar Dubey, 33, had to be admitted to Arth Hospital in Nalasopara east after he fell in a pothole and sustained an injury after a piece of metal pierced his leg. “I was returning from the office and as I came down the Nalasopara station bridge in the east, I fell in a pothole. I did not realise that the metal piece pierced my leg. I felt excruciating pain after reaching home and I had to rush to the hospital,” Dubey said.

Omkar Shetty, vice president of Parivartan Sanghatana, said, “We send selfies and get the phone numbers of the person in-charge of the area, but the only reply we get is that they would repair the potholes after monsoon.”

When contacted, VVMC officials said that the rains last week were sudden and they were caught off-guard with the intensity of the rainfall. “We have begun addressing the problem as the rains have stopped briefly this week. We are getting a good response on the selfie drive. We intend to resolve the problem as soon as possible,” Rajendra Laad, VVMC city engineer, said.

“We have deployed two teams to repair the potholes. Till now at least 3,000 potholes have been filled with paver blocks, however, everyday new potholes crop up,” Anil Pawar, VVMC commissioner, said.