Bhiwandi NCP Stages Unique Ganpati Protest Over Potholes, Demands Road Repairs And Civic Accountability

Bhiwandi witnessed a unique protest by the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) on Tuesday, as they took to the streets of Kalyan Naka to demand road repairs and accountability from the civic administration. The issue of pothole-ridden roads during the monsoon season became the focal point of the demonstration, led by NCP city president Pravin Patil.

The protesters assembled a human-sized replica of Lord Ganpati in the midst of the potholes, symbolizing the poor state of the city's roads and questioning the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation's performance. Patil urged elected officials to "go into the potholes," expressing their frustration with the condition of the roads throughout the city.

Patil alleged that approximately Rs 2.5 crore had been allocated to road repairs and pothole-filling initiatives prior to the monsoon season. However, he contended that numerous roads deteriorated swiftly after the onset of the rains, leading to the formation of large potholes on significant roadways across Bhiwandi. He highlighted the issue of rainwater pooling in the potholes, which has made commuting hazardous and raised safety concerns.

The civic administration was urged to disclose the complete financial records of the monsoon road repair expenditure and conduct a thorough quality audit of the work conducted by contractors. Patil emphasized that if any irregularities were discovered, those responsible should face consequences.

The protest took place on Kalyan Naka, a primary traffic artery in Bhiwandi, which is plagued by heavy vehicular traffic. Protesters argued that the potholes filled with rainwater have disrupted traffic flow and heightened the risk of accidents, particularly for motorcyclists. The NCP threatened to escalate their protests in the coming days if the municipal authorities fail to promptly address the road conditions.