Thane: A youth, Ganesh Fale, who was riding a bike in Diva on Sunday became the latest casualty of potholed roads in Thane district. “He was riding his bike on a damaged stretch when he lost balance and fell in the way of an oncoming tanker. He suffered severe injuries and was shifted to a civic hospital where doctors declared him dead,” said an officer of Mumbra police station that registered a case against the absconding tanker driver.
Following the first pothole-related death in Thane in July, chief minister Eknath Shinde had taken cognisance of the fatalities and had set up a task force to coordinate with local civic bodies and infrastructure agencies to ensure highways and roads are made safe in Thane, his home turf.
MNS MLA Raju Patil from Kalyan (rural) took to social media late on Sunday and questioned the spate of pothole-related mishaps in Shinde’s region. Rohidas Munde from BJP, Diva unit, demanded action against the contractor, civic officials and blamed the “apathy” of Shiv Sena leaders (rebel faction) who hold sway in this belt. “The local Sena leadership is responsible for the mess in Diva,” he said.
Kaptan Mali, a local, complained of several such damaged road patches in Diva which make them dangerous, especially in rains and at night. Former Shiv Sena corporator and deputy mayor R Madhvi, who represented the area, alleged the stretch was not developed due a dispute with local landowners but promised to ensure adequate compensation to the youth’s family.
Prashant Sonagra, TMC city engineer, admitted the stretch may have caused the mishap and claimed to have repaired the road by afternoon. “We are revamping the 1.6km Diva Agasan road and have completed work on a major portion, except for a 400m stretch left untouched due to dispute with locals,” he said, adding an enquiry has been launched into the accident.
Following the first pothole-related death in Thane in July, chief minister Eknath Shinde had taken cognisance of the fatalities and had set up a task force to coordinate with local civic bodies and infrastructure agencies to ensure highways and roads are made safe in Thane, his home turf.
MNS MLA Raju Patil from Kalyan (rural) took to social media late on Sunday and questioned the spate of pothole-related mishaps in Shinde’s region. Rohidas Munde from BJP, Diva unit, demanded action against the contractor, civic officials and blamed the “apathy” of Shiv Sena leaders (rebel faction) who hold sway in this belt. “The local Sena leadership is responsible for the mess in Diva,” he said.
Kaptan Mali, a local, complained of several such damaged road patches in Diva which make them dangerous, especially in rains and at night. Former Shiv Sena corporator and deputy mayor R Madhvi, who represented the area, alleged the stretch was not developed due a dispute with local landowners but promised to ensure adequate compensation to the youth’s family.
Prashant Sonagra, TMC city engineer, admitted the stretch may have caused the mishap and claimed to have repaired the road by afternoon. “We are revamping the 1.6km Diva Agasan road and have completed work on a major portion, except for a 400m stretch left untouched due to dispute with locals,” he said, adding an enquiry has been launched into the accident.