Delshad noted that citizens of California can sue the government for potholes.
He was a bit dismayed by Mumbai’s pockmarked roads, which he said not only put up a poor image of the city but also dissuade foreign investment.
Delshad told The Times of India that Beverly Hills uses flexible asphalt material to ensure roads do not crack up. Dry asphalt is taken to the spot and is used to fill potholes; a road-roller then melts the material. “We have got roads built in three stages, using asphalt. We have three trucks—one for lifting rubble, another for placing asphalt and the last for leveling it as its weight and heat compress the granular asphalt,” said Delshad.
An ardent supporter of technology-driven civic administration, Delshad said Mumbai government has not harnessed the full potential of technology. To drive home his point, Delshad displayed an application on his cellphone, Ask Bev, to allow citizens to bring their grievances to the attention of officials.
On the difficulty of introducing change within the system, Delshad narrated an incident about a prominent actor’s grievance about an inflated water bill. Soon after, Beverly Hills introduced wireless water meters, which enabled the city to monitor the exact amount of water being supplied and to detect leaks.
Rajiv Jalota, a Mumbai official, told The Times, “We are introducing a similar system but Mumbai faces many problems,” namely the fact that thieves in Mumbai have a propensity to steal water meters.
Delshad was in Mumbai chiefly to promote a new security device developed by an Indian firm, Micro Technologies. The device, call Micro Eye, is billed as the first product to offer both security and surveillance in one unit. Delshad said, “I am sure that Micro Eye will go a long way in curbing crimes and promoting a safe and secure environment.”
Jamshid Delshad, 72, came to the United States to attend college in 1959. He was first elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 2003 and has been re-elected ever since. The City Council has elected him to the largely ceremonial post of mayor twice for one-year terms,