Directs All Municipal Corporations to Work Towards a Pothole-Free Ganeshotsav
- Use precast and geopolymer techno-patch technology to fill potholes and provide immediate relief during the monsoon
- Prepare a time-bound programme at the municipal level to make all major roads in cities pothole-free
- Municipal corporation that successfully conducts a pothole-free Ganeshotsav to receive a special award
Thane, Aug 2026 : All municipal corporations across Maharashtra should immediately begin preparations to ensure a pothole-free Ganeshotsav. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed municipal corporations to use modern technologies such as precast and geopolymer techno-patches for immediate repair of roads during the monsoon and to implement time-bound programmes to fill potholes on internal roads and immersion routes ahead of the festival.
A special meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address the issue of potholes on roads in major cities across the state in view of the upcoming Ganeshotsav. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, D. Govindraj; Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide; Thane Municipal Corporation Commissioner Saurabh Rao; Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kailas Shinde, along with commissioners of the Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, Vasai-Virar, Bhiwandi and Panvel municipal corporations in the MMR region, attended the meeting. Commissioners of major municipal corporations from across the state, including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Latur, Nanded, Ahilyanagar, Akola, Ichalkaranji and Solapur, were also present.
During the meeting, it was noted that numerous complaints regarding potholes have been received from major cities across the state. The Hon’ble High Court has also taken cognisance of the issue and directed the government to ensure that potholes are repaired immediately. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde instructed all municipal commissioners to begin filling potholes across their respective cities without delay. Ganeshotsav is one of the major festivals of Maharashtra, and only a few days remain before its commencement. Therefore, Shinde directed the civic authorities to urgently repair roads using new technologies.
He also directed municipal corporations to review immersion routes, major procession routes and facilities at immersion ghats in major cities and immediately undertake work to ensure that there are no potholes along these routes. Separate teams of officials should be appointed to address potholes on other roads and regularly inspect roads across the cities. Telephone numbers should be publicised for citizens to report potholes, while complaints received through mobile applications should be resolved immediately.
A 24x7 mechanism should be kept ready for road repairs, and ongoing works should be inspected regularly, Shinde said. If necessary, municipal commissioners should step out of their offices and personally visit sites to review road repair works. He also directed civic bodies to upload photographs of potholes before and after repairs on social media so that citizens are informed about the work undertaken.
He further directed agencies such as the Public Works Department, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to coordinate with one another and appoint teams to ensure that roads under their respective jurisdictions remain pothole-free and that any potholes that emerge are repaired immediately.
If roads under the jurisdiction of these agencies become a source of inconvenience to citizens, the local municipal corporation should repair them at its own expense and subsequently recover the cost from the concerned agency, Shinde clearly directed.
In view of Ganeshotsav, priority should be given to filling potholes, and no agency should be permitted to undertake fresh road digging at present, he said. Special attention should also be paid to electrical wires along Ganesh procession routes to ensure that they do not cause any accident during idol immersion processions.
Shinde further directed that, as in previous years, no unnecessary fees should be collected from Ganeshotsav mandals and that the permission process for the festival should be made extremely simple and hassle-free.
“Ganeshotsav is an important festival and a matter of pride for the state, and ensuring that it is celebrated smoothly is our collective responsibility,” Shinde said. He appealed to all municipal commissioners to work together to ensure that there are no obstacles to the arrival of the Vighnaharta, Lord Ganesha.
Special Awards for Municipal Corporations Doing Good Work
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde also announced that a special award would be given to municipal corporations that undertake effective and speedy work in preparation for Ganeshotsav.
Municipal corporations in cities that successfully conduct a pothole-free, well-equipped and accident-free Ganeshotsav will receive first, second and third prizes from the Urban Development Department.
At the same time, the government will also maintain a record of municipal corporations and officials whose performance is poor. Shinde clarified that the government would take this performance into consideration while allocating funds to such municipal corporations.
