Pune: Gauri Kulkarni, a resident of Kothrud, is preparing for the challenges that the monsoon season will bring to the city's roads. Waterlogging, potholes, and slushy streets have become an annual ordeal for commuters. With only five days remaining until the deadline for road restoration, many roads across the city remain dug up and unfilled. If the repairs are not completed on time, residents fear that commuting will become extremely difficult in the coming days.
Residents Express Frustration
Kulkarni noted that despite the election of a new civic body and new corporators, the administration appears indifferent to public issues. She stated, "Although it is well known that pothole-filled and dug-up roads cause immense inconvenience to commuters, the same problem recurs every year." The dug-up roads have become accident-prone, leading not only to traffic jams but also to mishaps. Rucha Joshi, a resident of Satara Road, highlighted that roads connecting to highways face even greater challenges due to the movement of heavy vehicles.
Poor Quality of Restoration Work
Roads are often dug up for laying utility lines or cables, but the restoration work is frequently of poor quality. Nilesh Nikam, leader of the opposition in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), remarked, "The work is not only delayed but also half-done in many places. The administration must increase vigilance and take steps to improve the quality of road works." PMC officials have stated that they have instructed ward offices to expedite the repairs. The civic body has permitted digging of approximately 75,000 running metres of roads and has collected around Rs 50 crore as restoration charges from private firms and government agencies.
Allegations of Nexus
Vijay Kumbhar of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti, a citizens' group, alleged, "The poor quality of road repairs has become a regular feature as it serves the vested interests of some civic officials, contractors, and politicians. A nexus between these individuals delays road work. Action should be taken against senior officials to send the right message." Rajesh Bankar, head of PMC's road department, explained, "The works have been divided between the road department and ward offices. More time will be given to ward offices as the tendering process to appoint contractors has been delayed. Emergency works for drainage and water supply are allowed."
How to Report Road Issues
The administration has urged citizens to raise complaints via the PMC portal and helpline. In most cases, roads are dug by telecom operators, electricity service providers, cellphone operators, internet service providers, and piped gas companies to lay cables or pipes. As many as 26 firms and operators have carried out such work and paid the civic body for restoration. PMC charges around Rs 12,000 per running metre to repair the roads, and contractors are expected to restore the road to its original condition or face a fine. Civic officials said they have maintained strict vigilance on road quality. A third party was roped in for surveying 1,200 km of roads, and based on its findings, 33 contractors were fined nearly Rs 50 lakh for poor-quality work under the defect liability period.
