Cement concreting of about 1700 km of roads in Mumbai Metropolitan Region has been completed, and concreting of the remaining roads is in progress. Due to this comprehensive initiative, the number of potholes on the roads and the problems arising from them have significantly reduced during this monsoon season. This has also resulted in huge savings in the cost of filling the potholes. To effectively deal with the problem of potholes arising during the monsoon season on the roads within the municipal limits, the engineers of the road department should work with more vigilance and responsibility. Every complaint received regarding potholes should be disposed of within 24 hours. The bad patches should be brought to the fore immediately. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar directed that the engineers concerned should ensure that the potholes on the roads are filled with high quality by the contractors appointed as per the zone, following the prescribed technical standards and scientific methodology. Bangar also clarified that the secondary engineers appointed on a bat-by-bat basis should regularly visit the roads in their area on two wheels, know the current condition of the roads and ensure immediate action for necessary repairs. A meeting of the Assistant Engineers of the Roads and Transport Department was held at the Municipal Headquarters in which a detailed review of the progress of pre-monsoon works, preparations and necessary measures was taken. At that time, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar gave various instructions. Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Girish Nikam, Chief Engineer (Roads) Mr. Engineers including Mantiya Swamy were present.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar said that the Municipal Corporation has started a road concreting program to solve the problem of potholes on the roads / make the roads pothole-free. Under this, concreting of about 1700 km of cement roads has been completed. The concreting of the remaining roads will be done after the monsoon. Therefore, in future, more and more roads will be cemented and the problem of potholes will definitely reduce. Apart from this, there will be cost savings as well.

If the trench dug for utility channels is not refilled as per the technical standards, then during the monsoon, water enters the road structure. Due to which the strength of the road decreases and the process of road collapse starts. Keeping this in mind, various steps are being taken by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to avoid inconvenience to the citizens. It is guaranteed that a pothole filled once using mastic will not open again. Accordingly, the Municipal Corporation has appointed zone-wise contractors for the maintenance of the roads. Engineers should periodically review their manpower, machinery and material stock. In particular, the availability of mastic cookers, pothole filling schedule, mastic cooker rounds should be coordinated. It should be strictly ensured that potholes on the roads are filled as per the laid down technical standards and scientific methods. Bangar directed that the potholes should be filled when they are small in size (6 inches). Bangar said that along with the road engineers, 227 secondary engineers have been appointed in the municipal corporation for a total of 227 bats (one for each electoral ward). These secondary engineers should inspect the roads in their assigned section daily and if any potholes are found, they should be filled immediately using a rectangle. They should go around on a two-wheeler and inspect the roads in their work area. The complaints of potholes should be coordinated through the central system and the department office and resolved in a timely manner. Instead of waiting for complaints, potholes should be recorded and filled on their own. The Municipal Corporation is responsible for both the Eastern Expressway (18.6 km – Mulund to Shiv) and the Western Expressway (27.6 km – Dahisar Checkpoint to Mahim) in Mumbai. Along with this, the responsibility of the Eastern Freeway (17 km) also falls on the Municipal Corporation. The Road Department should take full care that there are no potholes on these three highways. Other government authorities in Mumbai should also take proper care of the roads under their jurisdiction, and the Municipal Corporation administration should follow suit so that the potholes are filled immediately, Bangar also said. If potholes occur on the roads within the Defect Liability Period (DLP), no premium should be paid. Moreover, the project roads and roads should be filled free of cost by the contractor concerned within the Defect Liability Period (DLP) as per the terms and conditions of the tender within a limited time frame. The Municipal Corporation should not pay any compensation/premium for filling these potholes. Because the condition of maintenance/upkeep is included in the contract itself. On the contrary, if the number of potholes on the roads has increased during the period of liability for defects, then punitive action should be taken, Bangar said, explaining the project roads, defects and emphasised on improving the road.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s ‘K-West’ department yesterday (June 18, 2026) evicted 9 unauthorized shops that were obstructing the movement of pedestrians by constructing shops and sheds on footpaths in the Andheri area.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone 4) Dr. Bhagya Shri Kapse and under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (K-West Division) Chakrapani Ale.

Under this, one shop was evicted on Fun Republic Road in Andheri. While action was taken against one unauthorized shop.

In the operation conducted on Veera Desai Marg, 8 unauthorized shops were evicted. In addition, illegally constructed sheds and stairs were demolished. Due to this operation, the footpaths in the area have become clean and it will be easier for pedestrians to walk.

Officers and employees of the Conservation, Building and Factory, Licensing and Public Health departments working under the West Administrative Division of the Amboli Police Station carried out the operation with the help of various plants. Ample security was deployed at the time by the Amboli Police Station.

Mumbai, June 19: On the historic occasion of Shiv Sena’s 60th foundation day, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has been rocked by a massive crisis. A day after six Lok Sabha MPs triggered a second major split in the party within four years, moving to align themselves with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday launched a scathing attack on the dissident lawmakers, claiming that a late-night financial settlement had to be engineered to pacify them over a dispute regarding Cabinet berths.

“They stood in the market to sell themselves,” he said.

Refusing to term the exit a legitimate political split, Raut stated that the rebel MPs had simply auctioned their loyalty. “I do not consider this a split. A person leaves when they are bound to an ideology. When someone stands in the market to sell themselves and someone buys them, it is called trading, not a split. Our six people stood in the market two days ago, put a price tag on themselves, and were bought over. They haven’t left because of some great revolutionary thought,” he said.

He heavily targeted the rebel MPs—Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar—who skipped a crucial parliamentary meeting in Delhi despite a strict three-line party whip.

Explaining why the six MPs have not yet returned to Mumbai, Raut alleged that internal fighting broke out over who would get a ministerial berth in the Union government.

According to Raut, a compromise was reached in the dead of night to resolve the chaos. To pacify the remaining five disgruntled MPs, an additional payout of Rs 25 crore each has been promised over the next year on the condition that they do not create a public scene, he claimed. “They are currently hiding in holes under heavy police protection,” Raut alleged.

“If you haven’t committed a crime or a sin, why do you need an entire police fleet? Is Maharashtra’s Home Department only meant to protect traitors while crimes against women rise?”

The political heat extended to the alliance partners as well. Raut took a swipe at a senior BJP leader, mockingly referring to him as the “Jamner chi Mavshi” (the aunt from Jamner, an apparent dig at BJP leader and Maharashtra water resources minister Girish Mahajan) for claiming that the MPs left because Uddhav Thackeray associated with the Congress.

“These BJP leaders act like the Mavshi (supporting character) in a Tamasha (folk theater). When these six MPs won their elections, it was with the help of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Congress workers. Didn’t you know Congress was part of the alliance then? Why this sudden hatred for the Congress?” Raut questioned, challenging the BJP’s nationalist credentials by asking if any of their leaders had sacrificed their lives for India’s Independence.

Raut further threatened that if enforcement agencies like the ED and CBI were neutralised for just half an hour, “the BJP in Maharashtra would break into seven pieces,” with Girish Mahajan being the first to desert.

With both the Thackeray and Shinde factions hosting separate high-decibel events for the Shiv Sena Foundation Day, the Thackeray camp has already initiated disciplinary actions, serving show-cause notices to the six absent MPs to cancel their parliamentary memberships.

Daring the rebels to face the electorate honestly, Raut concluded, “If you have even an ounce of shame left, resign from your MP posts. You won on our party symbol because Uddhav Thackeray and ordinary party workers spilled their sweat and blood for you. You took false oaths in the name of your parents, Sai Baba, and Goddess Bhavani—now show some courage, resign, and face the public openly.”