KEWAL SEMLANI Vs. COMMISSIONER OF BOMBAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On oral request of the petitioners-parties-in-person, the Director General of Police, Maharashtra State, is impleaded as respondent No. 4 in suo motu Writ petition No. 3 of 2005 and respondent No. 5 in Writ Petition (PIL) No. 259 of 2005.

(2.) These petitions have been filed in this Court alleging the extremely poor condition of roads in Mumbai leading to many accidents and inconvenience to Mumbaites.

(3.) Pursuant to the directions of this Court, on 26th April, 2005, regarding the respondents preparation to meet coming monsoon, Santosh Korlekar, deputy Chief Engineer (Roads) (E. S. ) has filed a detailed affidavit. It is mentioned in the affidavit that number of meetings have been held of the assistant Commissioners and the concerned Road Department Staff for pre-monsoon measures to be taken with regard to roads of Mumbai. Accordingly, it has been decided to repair bad patches and potholes on roads prior to monsoon by using departmental staff working under the Assistant commissioners of the individual wards and contractual agencies working under the Zonal Dy. Chief Engineer (Roads). It is mentioned in the affidavit that proposal for appointment of the contractual agencies are before the standing Committee. The trenches taken by the various utility agencies will be reinstated prior to the monsoon by the contractual agencies working under the Assistant Commissioners of the respective wards. The Standing Technical advisory Committee on roads in Greater Mumbai had suggested some measures for attending pot-holes. The said suggestions have been incorporated in the tenders invited for attending pot-holes. The tenders have been finalised and the proposal for appointment of contractor is before the Standing Committee. Immediately after the proposal is approved, the work orders will be issued to the contractors who will also attend the potholes and carry out pre-monsoon repairs. It is also indicated in the affidavit that short-term measures and the long-term measures as recommended by the Standing Technical Advisory committee would be implemented in the regular redevelopment contract of the roads as already mentioned in the earlier affidavit. Since the monsoon is approaching fast, we direct the Standing Committee to take the decision regarding appointment of the contractors as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, within two weeks from today.