Residents of Mumbai's upscale Kala Ghoda precinct were left frustrated and shocked this week after a freshly completed section of the area's ambitious makeover was dug up again, mere days after the Municipal Commissioner himself inspected the finished work.
Fresh Excavation Sparks Public Outcry
The incident, which occurred early Monday morning, highlights what locals call a chronic lack of coordination among civic authorities. Ashad Mehta, a resident who witnessed the digging, expressed the community's exhaustion. He pointed out that the stretch had been under construction for a prolonged period and work had only just been wrapped up. "It is only shocking to see that a portion is dug up barely days after it was made," Mehta stated.
This repeated excavation has led to serious questions about planning and execution. Residents are demanding to know why newly laid roads and pavements are being torn open almost immediately after completion, a practice they say wastes public money and causes immense inconvenience.
BMC's Justification and Resident's Skepticism
In response to the criticism, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defended the action. An official explained that the digging was unavoidable due to a cable fault detected at the site. The official clarified that attending to such faults is permitted even on newly constructed cement concrete roads and assured that this was not a new trench for laying cables. "The concerned contractor will restore the road once the fault is rectified," the BMC official said.
However, this explanation has failed to convince the local community. Residents argue that such temporary fixes and repeated digging compromise the structural quality of the road and create hazards for pedestrians in this busy heritage zone, known for its museums, galleries, and cafes. They see it as a symptom of a deeper systemic failure in coordination between various utility departments and the roads department.
The Vision for Kala Ghoda's Transformation
The ongoing Kala Ghoda makeover is a significant project spanning 3,443 square meters. It aims to revitalize five key streets:
- Dr V. B. Gandhi Road
- Rutherford Road
- B. Bharucha Road
- Saibaba Road
- Ropewalk Lane
The planned upgrades promise a transformed experience, featuring:
- Upgraded and widened pedestrian pathways
- Uniform signage for better navigation
- Decorative paving using basalt and granite
- A new public plaza at the B. Bharucha Road junction with seating areas
- Restrictions on heavy vehicle entry, with the zone ringed by barricades
The new plaza is designed to be a leisure spot where visitors can relax and enjoy food from nearby eateries. While the vision is grand, the recent incident of re-excavation casts a shadow over the project's management, underscoring the gap between planning and on-ground execution that often plagues urban infrastructure projects in the city.
