manoj

If you want the road and footpath outside your home or office to be smooth and free of encumbrances then all you need to do is inform the Road Monitoring Committee (RMC) about what is wrong. The RMC has promised to ensure that the concerned agencies take corrective measures.

In fact, the RMC has asked citizens to write in with their complaints so that it helps them in their work.

“The participation of citizens is crucial to ensuring quality roads. We are also looking out for citizens and citizen groups who are willing to volunteer to monitor the roads in their localities,’’ said Gerson D’cunha, member of the committee.

It has also prepared a format for citizens to fill in about problems related to road, traffic and footpaths. The information along with photographs can be emailed to mumbairoadsgmail.com or sent either by fax or post to the G-south ward office where its office is located.

The RMC was appointed by the Bombay high court following public interest litigations about the poor condition of city roads. The committee has a tenure of one year and has to submit a report to the high court every quarter. Former police commissioner R H Mendonca is the chairman of the committee. The five-member committee will not only look at the condition of roads but also that of footpaths.

“In case of BMC we will ensure that the road work is done as per the recommendations of the Merani committee. While in case of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, we will have to ensure that they have followed the guidelines of the Ministry of Transport,’’ said Mendonca.

TARGETING CITY’S PROBLEM AREAS

• Roads
  • Potholes and bad patches
  • Evenness of road surface, manhole and gutter cover, road slopes
  • Kerb side slopes and state of muck accumulation
  • State of flooding during regular rains
  • Hawker stationing on roads, taxi and autorickshaw parking
  • Improper median, faded zebra markings and marker line for vehicles to halt before the road junction
  • Debris and other material left on roads
  • Movable road blocks as well as road divider railing that obstruct traffic view to pedestrians crossing roads
  • Trees being cut for roadwidening
• Footpaths
  • Height of footpath from road kerb level
  • Width of footpath when it is fenced and not fenced
  • Uneven walking surfaces
  • Sign posts that obstruct pedestrian movement
  • Bus stop shelters that do not leave adequate space for pedestrians to pass through
  • Busy roads without footpaths
  • Planting of pots on footpaths which obstruct pedestrian movement

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Mumbai Edition)

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