Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a part of the VIP road opposite Pizza by the Bay restaurant at Marine Drive caved in on Monday afternoon. The cave-in is 7 feet deep and 20 feet in length; the cavity formed after the concrete interior got corroded due to saltwater. The entire stretch of the road was among the first to be concretised. According to officers of Regional Transport Office (RTO), Colaba, a part of the road had developed an incline in the last fortnight.
The Colaba police had informed the BMC of the depression, but alleged that BMC officials did not take cognisance of it. Ajay Kshirsagar, RTO police inspector, said, “Many motorists on the road felt a jerk while one motorcyclist skid due to the impact. Shaken by the incident, they alerted the traffic police.” Thereafter, six traffic constables and two traffic officers were deployed on the spot to guide the motorists.
BMC officials said that when they learnt of the incline, they asked their workers to fill in the pit but realised that it was hollow at the bottom. Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, BMC, said, “The road looked as if it was sagging when our workers dug a trial pit this afternoon.
They found that concrete had been washed away as it is located near the sea. Road repair work will be conducted at night to avoid disturbing the traffic and work will be, completed within two days. We will find out if any other, part of this road is also affected.
