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The Maharashtra government has formed a new committee, led by the PWD's additional Chief Secretary, to process compensation claims for accidents or deaths caused by potholes or open manholes on roads under its control. Families of victims may receive up to INR 6 lakh, while injured individuals can get INR 50,000 to INR 2.5 lakh based on severity. The committee must convene within seven days of a reported case and meet every 15 days, with powers to act on applications or even suo motu based on media reports. Compensation paid by the PWD will be recovered from those responsible for poor maintenance, including contractors or officials. The move follows Bombay High Court directives stressing accountability and timely repairs.
The Maharashtra government has formed a new committee, headed by the additional Chief Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD), to handle compensation claims arising from accidents or deaths caused by potholes or open manholes on roads under its control. This move follows a Bombay High Court order that requires compensation to be paid in such cases. Advertisement
Under the committee's mandate, families of people who die in such accidents may be awarded up to INR 6 lakh, while those who are injured could receive between INR 50,000 and INR 2.5 lakh, depending on how serious the injuries are.
According to the government resolution, the committee must call its first meeting within seven days of receiving information about a death or accident. After that, it will meet at least every 15 days, or more often if needed, especially during the monsoon season.
The committee has broad powers: it can act on applications from the legal heirs of deceased persons or injured individuals, but it may also initiate action on its own (suo motu) based on media reports or other sources.
Importantly, any compensation paid by the PWD under the committee's decision is to be recovered from those found responsible for poor road maintenance; this could include contractors, engineers, or government officials. The resolution also allows the use of penalty amounts already collected from contractors (for example, during defect-liability periods) for making the payouts.
The High Court had previously ordered that similar committees be set up for other road-maintenance authorities, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
In its broader ruling, the court also stressed that any reported pothole or open manhole should be repaired within 48 hours.Officials responsible for substandard work could face strict penal or disciplinary action, including blacklisting, fines, or criminal proceedings. If the committee fails to disburse compensation within six to eight weeks of a claim, responsible officials could be held personally liable, and interest may be charged.
The High Court has framed this as more than just financial relief; it views compensation as a tool to enforce accountability among civic bodies, contractors, and engineers who are entrusted with road safety.
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