MAHABALESHWAR, Correspondent
With Mahabaleshwar expected to witness a significant influx of tourists during the upcoming Diwali festive season, the municipal council has stepped up preparations to ensure that visitors face no inconvenience. Municipal President Sunil Shinde has directed department heads to address deficiencies in essential civic amenities, including roads, street lighting, water supply and sanitation, on a priority basis.
With the monsoon having completely withdrawn, maintenance and repair works across the hill station have gathered momentum. Against this backdrop, a special review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Shinde. The meeting was attended by the municipal council's chief officer, senior officials from the Public Works Department and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), along with contractors handling various development projects.
The meeting reviewed ongoing maintenance and repair works in detail. Moving beyond the review meeting, Shinde also conducted an on-site inspection of major roads, important junctions and narrow lanes across the town, accompanied by municipal officials and staff. Wherever deficiencies were identified, he issued clear instructions to the concerned officials and contractors on the spot.
Road Repairs and Concretisation to Be Completed on Priority
During the inspection, the municipal president directed officials to expedite several pending roadworks across the town.
A stretch of one road has already been concretised, and instructions were issued to complete the remaining cement-concrete work without delay.
Another badly damaged road, riddled with potholes at several locations, is to be repaired through urgent asphalting to make it safe and suitable for vehicular traffic.
Officials were also instructed to complete the pending cement-concretisation work on another road at the earliest.
In the main market area, loose and dislodged paving blocks on Dr. Sabane Road are to be properly refitted. The entire stretch will also undergo grouting to make it cleaner, safer and more convenient for tourists.
Underground Power Cables and New Streetlights
To improve the town's electrical infrastructure, Shinde directed officials to install underground electricity cables wherever required and erect new streetlight poles in areas that currently lack adequate lighting.
A major concern was raised regarding the stretch from the mosque on Masjid Road to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, which has reportedly remained without adequate street lighting for the past eight years due to the absence of streetlight poles.
Local corporator Advocate Sanjay Jangam brought the issue to the attention of Shinde. Taking immediate cognisance, the municipal president issued strict instructions to the civic administration to ensure that streetlights are operational throughout the stretch within the next eight days.
Shinde also directed the Public Works Department to accelerate work on the Market Road, Masjid Road and Ganesh Peth, three parallel roads that fall under its jurisdiction. He stressed that the pending works must be completed swiftly in view of the approaching tourist season.
Officials and Contractors Asked to Ensure Timely Completion
The inspection tour and review meeting were attended by Mahabaleshwar Municipal Council Chief Officer Yogesh Patil, corporators Advocate Sanjay Jangam, Afzal Sutar and Rohit Dhebe, contractor Neeraj Agvekar, heads of various municipal departments and several prominent local residents.
With the Diwali tourist season approaching, the municipal administration has intensified efforts to improve roads, lighting and other civic facilities. The objective is to ensure that Mahabaleshwar is well-prepared to welcome visitors with better infrastructure, safer streets and improved public amenities.
