Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 8: In a major push to make the city pothole-free, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has announced that the first phase of Mumbai’s large-scale road concretisation project will be completed by December 2026, while the second phase is slated for completion by May 2027.

Reviewing the ongoing works for the first time after assuming office, Bhide stressed that no extensions would be granted to contractors and directed officials to ensure strict adherence to timelines and quality standards. She also instructed that real-time progress updates be uploaded on the civic dashboard.

The ambitious project, initiated in 2022 by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, aims to concretise nearly 700 km of roads across the city in two phases. The proposal was originally conceptualised under the leadership of Eknath Shinde during his tenure as Chief Minister.

According to official data, around 72 per cent of the total road work has already been completed, while 14.6 per cent is currently in progress and 13.1 per cent is yet to commence.

The review meeting was also attended by Ritu Tawde and BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam.

Highlighting the impact of the project, Satam noted a significant drop in expenditure on pothole repairs. The spending reduced from Rs 202 crore in 2023–24 to Rs 156 crore in 2024–25, marking a 23 per cent decline. It further dropped to Rs 89 crore in 2025–26, a reduction of 43 per cent. For the current year, the projected expenditure is expected to fall to Rs 44 crore, indicating a further 50 per cent decrease.

The civic body believes that once completed, the concretisation drive will offer long-term relief to Mumbaikars from recurring pothole issues, especially during the monsoon season.