Navin Lade

potholes

business capital

Guinness World Records

Limca Book of Records

If’s entry is accepted, be sure that we will receive the distinction for infamous roads.Recently, when Navin Lade read a newspaper report about Mumbai roads cratered with more than 20,000, he couldn’t believe that this was how India is showcasing itsto the world. Embarrassed about the city’s infrastructure, Lade thought of a unique way to shame the authorities. The general secretary of the employment wing of the Republican Party of India (RPI), Lade wondered if he could get the city into the record books for its infamous potholes. With no such prior entry, he decided to act on behalf of Mumbaikars and has applied to bothandAs the first step, Lade paid Rs 350 as application fee to Guinness. At this price, he will hear from the organisation within eight weeks about the kind of evidence required. He would ideally like to expedite the process and hear from Guinness within five working days, but for that he needs to pay $ 1,000. Ready to bear this non-refundable expense, Lade wants to be sure that by then he has documentary evidence in the form of photographs, videos and news clippings – a task for which he has appealed to Mumbaikars.The authorities from Guinness and Limca will then make a visit to the city to verify all the claims. That’s the time this photographic evidence will come in handy, for, by then, it might stop raining and the city’s civic bodies would have cold-mixed the potholes. During official visits by Guinness and Limca, Lade might need to pay for their city expenses from his own pocket. The thought, however, doesn’t bother him; the potholes do.“Every year, the city and its people suffer during these months. From buildings and bridges falling down to water logging and potholes, all of these have led to several casualties. Despite the high death toll, those in power seem unaffected and keep repeating their old promises and assurances every year. Perhaps a dubious distinction of this kind would shame them into action,” said Lade.In case Lade’s application goes through and the record is approved, he plans to present the distinction certificate to Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta.Readers can forward their pothole photographs and video clips to Lade on 9664017777 or navinlade@gmail.com