Civic bodies to look after roads maintenance in Maharashtra

MUMBAI, July 10: In compliance with a Bombay High Court order, Maharashtra government has decided to entrust the responsibility of maintenance of roads on the municipal corporations of respective cities in the state. In a government resolution (GR) issued by state Urban Development Department (UDD) yesterday, municipal corporations have been asked to make available a toll free number, dedicated website, text message or telephone receiving system to register all complaints related to bad roads, footpaths and path holes. The state government has also asked the civic bodies to take cognisance of complaints filed by residents through the corporation's website or through their cell phones and stipulate a time frame in which their complaints would be addressed. "The maximum time a municipal corporation can take to address the problems of citizens is two weeks. Once complaints are addressed, corporations have been asked to upload the photographs of repaired road on the website and publish in a local newspaper," an official from the UDD said. "We have also asked corporations to upload on the website and in a local newspaper the mechanism through which roads, footpaths and path holes have been rectified," the official added. The official said that the civic bodies have also been asked to use modern scientific technique to repair roads, so that they do not get damaged frequently. The state government has also warned all municipal commissioners to take ensure proper care in following the High Court's orders or else they would be held responsible if there is a 'contempt of court'.