Mumbai: After a citizens group questioned the large spend on pothole repairs by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) despite concretisation of the roads, the civic body revealed its spending on pothole repairs on roads other than Western and Eastern Express Highways has reduced by about 55% compared to last year.BMC stated it has floated tenders worth Rs 93 crore for the entire city this year, including the Western and Eastern Highway, and that the amount has consistently reduced over the last few years. While the civic body had floated tenders worth Rs 90 crore last year for potholes in the entire city, except the western and eastern highway, this year it’s just Rs 40 crore.Of the tenders worth Rs 93 crore, Rs 50 crore is for the two highways — the Eastern and Western Expressway — Rs 40 crore is for rest of the roads across the city, while Rs 3 crore is for roads with width below 6 metres. “The money spent on pothole repairs, that is excluding the highways, in the city has consistently reduced in the last three years. In 2023, it was Rs 203 crore, in 2024 it was Rs 156 crore, while in 2025, it was Rs 90 crore. This year, it is just Rs 40 crore and can be attributed due to concretisation of the roads,” said an official.The Watchdog Foundation questioned the high amount of money spent on repairs of potholes, despite the concretisation of the roads, and urged the civic body to ensure judicious and accountable use of taxpayers’ money.
