HC: Citizens need to be proactive & not just complain on social media
BENCH ASKS STATE TO USE EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF POTHOLES AND IMPROVE THE ROADS
The Bombay High Court has observed that citizens need to be proactive and take their complaints of bad roads to the authorities.
A division bench of justices A S Oka and P N Deshmukh made the suggestion while hearing a public interest litigation taken up suo moto on the issue of poor condition of roads in the metropolis which was leading to accidents and death of motorists.
“People just post complaints and photos of bad roads on social media. These posts are probably not being transferred into proper complaints,” said Justice Oka
The bench asked the Maharashtra government to appoint a committee comprising of best experts to recommend best techniques and materials to be used for maintaining roads in best condition.
A division bench of justices A S Oka and P N Deshmukh made the suggestion while hearing a public interest litigation taken up suo moto on the issue of poor condition of roads in the metropolis which was leading to accidents and death of motorists.
“The state needs to apply its mind to form a committee of experts from institutes like Indian Institute of Technology or Border Road Organisation who will recommend best techniques and materials that should be used while constructing roads to ensure they remain pothole-free and in good condition,” said Justice Oka.
The court lamented the delay shown by the state to appoint a body of experts. “The government must make use of the best talent available in the country for road construction,” Justice Oka said.
The bench also emphasised this should not be done in ad-hoc manner, but to seek long term solution.
The court also said the government should come up with a central redressal mechanism for dealing with complaints lodged by people about bad roads. “A citizen may not know the details of which road comes under the authority of which agency. Hence, the government is obliged to set up a central mechanism and communicate a complaint to the authority concerned,” Justice Oka said.
BMC counsel Anil Sakhare told the court that the issue of potholes and poor condition of roads comes into maximum prominence only when the city witnesses monsoon.
“After August, the situation is brought under control,” he said. Sakhare said after the death of a doctor last monsoon after he fell into an open manhole in central Mumbai, the civic corporation has come up with a new policy on manholes. The court directed Sakhare to place the policy before it next week.