OFFICIAL RESPONSE

VS KULKARNI, superintending engineer, Cidco

We are aware of the problems concerning the roads in New Panvel. In the past couple of years, we have done patchwork where there were potholes as relaying the roads completely was not feasible. Now, of course, there has been a lot of wear and tear on the coating and hence, there is a need for a complete overhaul. It is in this context that we have now prepared a comprehensive plan to asphalt all the New Panvel roads. The process is on and the estimates are being prepared. Once we get the requisite approvals, the work will begin. This could happen by April-May as the e-tendering process itself takes a month and a half. The work itself will take around 18 months to complete. Once that is done, there will be no problem concerning the roads in the node. We will be taking up the worst affected areas first. Now that you have informed us of the problem in sector 8 area, we will make sure that it is one of the first areas to be taken up.