PM visit to bring sweeping change?

MUMBAI: Eyeing plaudits about the city’s cleanliness from Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits Mumbai on June 26, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed its top officials to pull up their socks to keep the western suburbs and the Western Express Highway free of debris, trash and waterlogging.

These instructions have been given to deputy municipal commissioners (DMCS) and assistant commissioners (ACS) of the respective wards.

Modi will attend the third annual meeting of multilateral lender Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Officials should make sure

that the no waterlogging takes place on the Western Express Highway or its surrounding areas, stated a BMC notification issued on Tuesday.

“This attempt is clearly to portray a positive picture of the city in front of the PM. In fact, the PM should know the true face of the

city,” said one of the officials, who received the order. The circular has been sent to DMCS of zone 3, 4 and 7, and ward officers of H-east, H-west, K-east, K-west, P-south, P-north, R-south, R-central and R-north. All these wards include areas such as Bandra, Andheri, Goregaon, Malad and Borivli.

Most places on the Western Express Highway, especially those around Metro construction sites, have been dug up for various reasons. In addition to the Metro work, cavalcades of Modi and other dignitaries are likely to worsen the traffic congestion.

Prashant Gaikwad, ward officer of K-west, said, “The instructions are especially for the highway, which does not fall under my ward. But when there are any VIP visits, we are general directed to maintain extra hygiene and clear debris owing to security concerns. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will also be notified about the visit to remove any debris and maintain hygiene.