India, Aug. 9 -- Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde had a pressing engagement on Friday. Braving a cratered stretch of National Highway-48 (NH-48) in Thane, Shinde's convoy pulled up at the Ghodbunder ghat section, where hurried repairs are attempting to salvage his image - and prevent further loss of life.

The horribly pockmarked 120-km stretch between Mira Road and Palghar has turned into a death trap, even though it was concretised only recently. In an unprecedented move, heavy vehicles have been banned for three days, to allow emergency repairs.

Shinde, elected from Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane and also the district's guardian minister, has made road repairs his calling card, promising a "pothole-free Mumbai" under his a...