Municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak on Sunday inspected the ongoing work at Mithi river after the Congress MLA from Kurla, Naseem Khan, expressed displeasure over the second phase of the widening project. Khan claimed that the work was moving slowly and demanded completion of the project before the onset of the monsoon. The second phase of the work includes widening and deepening of the river from the Shristhi Road bridge (Sheetal cinema) in Kurla to Vihar Lake. It also includes the construction of a retaining wall around the river banks to prevent encroachments. The first phase of the Mithi river widening project was completed two years ago. "Contractors for the second phase were given time till June to finish the work. But the monsoon arrives by that time. The work should be completed in May itself," said Khan, who had urged Phatak to visit the site and assess the situation. "First, the widening and deepening work has not been carried out properly near the Kranti Nagar slum. People who stay in the slum will be at risk in the case of flooding. Also, a bridge across the Mithi river at Kranti Nagar needs to be raised. There are two other bridges at Ashok Nagar Marwa Estate and one opposite Kalpana cinema, which too have to be raised. If the elevation work on these bridges is not taken up, it could be difficult to use them during rains due to overflooding," said Khan. Phatak said work on the Kranti Nagar bridge was delayed because of some change in design, but he assured that the BMC would soon resume it. "As far as widening and deepening are concerned, the work is satisfactory. The banks have been broadened and we have built a long retaining wall on the eastern side of the river at Kranti Nagar," he said. "I don't think there will be any problems in Kranti Nagar this monsoon. We have to wait and see," said Phatak.