KALYAN: In an unusual protest against pothole-ridden roads, two women corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena staged a symbolic felicitation of a civic official by draping a torn shawl representing potholes around him.The protest was carried out by corporators Swapnali Kene and Aparna Bhoir at the office of a KDMC deputy engineer over the poor condition of roads in Rambaug No. 4 area of Kalyan West and roads outside corporators’ offices.The corporators alleged that despite repeated complaints about the potholes, the civic administration had failed to take effective action to repair the roads.Kene said several roads had developed potholes again despite being repaired recently. “Complaints have been made repeatedly, but the potholes are not being properly repaired. In fact, potholes have reappeared on some roads that were repaired just two days ago,” she said.The symbolic felicitation with the torn shawl was intended to highlight the condition of the roads and express the corporators’ displeasure with the civic administration’s handling of the issue.The corporators demanded that the roads in the area be made pothole-free before the upcoming Ganesh festival.Kene said the civic administration should ensure that road repairs are carried out using proper material and to the required standards rather than undertaking temporary patchwork.“We will welcome and felicitate the civic officials with a proper shawl if the roads are repaired properly and remain in good condition,” Kene said.The protest comes amid concerns over deteriorating road conditions in several parts of Kalyan-Dombivli ahead of the festival season. The corporators said the civic administration should undertake a comprehensive inspection of damaged roads and complete quality repairs before Ganeshotsav.
