Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) is sprucing up all major VIP roads in the
metropolis before the US President Barack Obama arrives here
on November 6.
"We do not know whether he will use helicopter or roads.
We are preparing for all possibilities and taking all
necessary steps on our own. We will make sure all roads in the
city are pothole-free before November 6," a senior civic
official told PTI.
A senior police official, however, said there was always
the option of the US President using a helicopter to land at
the Naval helipad in Colaba and then drive across to the Taj
hotel which is a couple of minutes from the helipad.
BMC has undertaken the task of filling up potholes,
repair bad patches, sidewalks and dividers to be painted, new
trees to be planted, dead ones to be removed, debris and
encroachments on important arteries to be cleared.
"We have undertaken repair and beautification work on
probable stretches where the President will drive from
including Nariman Point, Marine Drive, Taj Mahal hotel, Peddar
Road and airport road among others," the official said.
"The civic body has allocated Rs 25 lakh in 24 wards for
road works and the funds will be used for carrying out
repairs," he said.
This monsoon the civic body drew flak from various
quarters for poor maintenance of city roads, after which the
budget of road department was also increased by Rs 500 crore
in addition to the initial budget of Rs 900 crore.
PTI
