Mumbai, Dec. 16 -- As Mumbai gears up for long-delayed civic elections after an eight-year gap, activists and resident associations have said that key promises made ahead of the 2017 polls, such as pothole-free roads, 24/7 water supply, and improved tree cover, have failed to materialise. In the 2017 BMC elections, the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 84 seats, narrowly ahead of the BJP's 82. While they had contested separately after seat-sharing talks failed, the BJP extended support to the Shiv Sena following the elections. HT revisited some of the key promises made by the Shiv Sena and BJP. Both parties promised a 24/7 water supply, no hike in water charges, and exemption from water taxes for consumption below 750 litres per day. However, Mumbai continues to have a water deficit of around 600-800 million litres per day (MLD). "Not a single programme has been initiated to give 24x7 water supply," said Sitaram Shelar, convenor of Pani Haq Samiti, an NGO fighting for universal access to water. "Though a rainwater harvesting system exists, it remains mainly on paper as there is no monitoring or evaluation of its functioning. Both parties promised pothole-free roads, which is far from reality in Mumbai today. In fact, the BJP went one step ahead and had promised that road tax wouldn't be levied till the roads were free of potholes, which has not been done. The promised Mumbai Coastal Road, projected to reduce travel time between Nariman Point and Dahisar to 20 minutes, is operational only up to Worli. The Sena also promised to expedite the 12-kilometre Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. However, only the first of four phases-a flyover from Dindoshi to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP)-is expected to open by May 2026. "The condition of roads is far worse today than it was in the past," said Trivankumar Karnani, founder of Mumbai North Central District Forum. "A mere coastal road or Atal Setu does not define the city's infrastructure." Although both parties promised to protect and develop open spaces, citizens are yet to see such spaces being available in large numbers. The BJP had promised to protect 12,859 hectares of natural land as eco-sensitive zones where construction and encroachments would be prohibited. However, citizens continue to file petitions in court seeking protection for eco-sensitive zones such as the one around the SGNP. The Shiv Sena's promise to develop Mumbai's eastern waterfront as a tourism hub has not materialised. The party had also pledged large-scale afforestation to improve air quality. However, the city's air quality and dwindling tree cover remain a concern. "Whoever comes to power, the destructive spree continues across the city," said environmental activist Zoru Bhathena. "The quality of air, water, tree cover, open spaces and life in general is deteriorating." Several other promises remain unfulfilled, including ward-level creches for working parents and free access for municipal school students in civic swimming pools. A proposed international-standard sports complex at Govandi is also yet to see the light of day. Some of the promises that have been kept include the beautification of beaches, which have undergone vast improvements since 2017. The Shiv Sena also fulfilled its promise of property tax exemption for homes measuring up to 500 sq ft. Vinod Mishra, a former BJP corporator, said the party is on track to fulfil most of its manifesto promises. He mentioned the completion of phase 1 of the Coastal Road, ongoing work in phase 2, and tendering work underway in phase 3. "Regarding our promise of making Mumbai pothole-free, we have almost completed 50% concretisation of the city's roads and hope to make cemented roads pothole-free by 2027," said Mishra. "We have also set up 329 health dispensaries to make health accessible for all. Tenders are also in the final stage for the desalination project. Metro works are also almost over." Former mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar said her party had fulfilled 70-80% of its manifesto promises despite losing nearly three years to the Covid-19 pandemic. "People cannot forget that we had expended our energy in handling the health pandemic in such an exemplary way that it received global recognition. Had Covid not intervened, when practically regular work could not be undertaken, we would have probably fulfilled all our manifesto promises," she said....