Corporators across party lines hit out at the civic administration in Friday’s general assembly for shoddy roads, pavers and potholes across the city following an accident in Ghatkopar.
On Thursday, a 30-year-old man and his seven-year-old son died in a road accident in Ghatkopar. Jameel Sayyed and his son Razzaque were travelling on a motorcycle in Ghatkopar East around 3.45 p.m. when the bike skidded. They were then hit by a truck and died.
Local residents expressed anger over the state of the roads in the area, following which Ghatkopar corporator Rakhi Jadhav from the Nationalist Congress Party took a point of order in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) general assembly on Friday.
“Till when will people continue to die in this city? The administration had promised us that paver blocks will no longer be used in road construction, despite which they are rampant. One displaced paver block can also cause accidents. And in such cases, what action do we take against the contractor?” Ms. Jadhav asked.
Leader of the Opposition Ravi Raja said, “Last year, there was a similar accident in Dadar, now this. The road department is responsible for this. The BMC should complain against such contractors for criminal negligence.”
Congress corporator Ashraf Azmi, referring to another accident in Kurla last year, demanded that the BMC bring out a policy to compensate the families.
Following the discussion, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar set aside the point of order. He directed the administration to inspect the feasibility of penalising the contractor and awarding compensation.