The crucial highway connecting Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) has become a commuter's nightmare. A 42-kilometre stretch between Wadala and Ahilyanagar on the Ahilyanagar-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway is now a treacherous path, marred by massive potholes, some reportedly as wide as five feet. This severe deterioration has effectively halted normal traffic for the past two to three months, disrupting the lives of thousands, especially weekend travellers.
Weekend Commutes Derailed, Forcing Costly Detours
The road's condition has forced a major shift in travel patterns. Professionals from Sambhajinagar who work in Pune and typically travel home every weekend are now severely impacted. Many have reduced their visits to just once or twice a month. Drivers are avoiding the battered highway altogether, opting for a 60-kilometre detour via the Samruddhi Expressway, despite the extra distance, higher toll charges, and reported safety issues on that route like scattered nails and loose maintenance nozzles.
"I haven't used the Ahilyanagar road for over two months," said Prasad Sevekar, a professional working in Vimannagar who travels to Sambhajinagar every Friday. He now braves the longer and more expensive Samruddhi Expressway. The travel time has ballooned dramatically. What was once a four-and-a-half to five-hour journey between Pune and Sambhajinagar now takes seven to eight hours, as vehicles are forced to crawl at 20-30 kmph on the damaged highway.
"When you spend 14-16 hours commuting, there's hardly any time left for family," rued Mudassir Zikre, an HR professional from Vimannagar. Bank employee Atul Kakde has stopped his weekly trips entirely, citing the unbearable conditions.
Vehicles Damaged, Lives at Risk: The Human and Economic Toll
The poor infrastructure is taking a direct toll on vehicles and safety. Harun Shaikh, a senior hotel manager, shared a harrowing experience where his car's wheels were severely damaged after hitting a pothole during a night journey. "I had to drive 2km on a damaged wheel to get help, which delayed my trip by two hours," he said.
The situation is even more dire for residents of villages along the highway, for whom this is the only link to urban areas. Sambhaji Palve, who runs a hotel at Pandhari Pool, highlighted a tragic incident where a woman lost her life after her scooter slipped into a large pothole and she was subsequently run over by a truck. Villagers from Jeur and nearby areas staged protests two months ago demanding urgent repairs, but with little visible change.
"Every gram panchayat has submitted complaints, but all we get are assurances. Damaged vehicles are now a common sight along the highway," said Shashikant Pawar, a resident of Jeur. He criticised the piecemeal repair work, noting that authorities fix isolated one-kilometre stretches while leaving the vast majority of potholes in between untouched.
Official Response and the Road Ahead
The Public Works Department (PWD), which currently maintains the stretch, began patchwork repairs last month. Superintendent Engineer Vivek Malunde stated that this work would be completed soon, to be followed by resurfacing. The government has approved Rs 50 crore for resurfacing, which is scheduled to start next month and continue till May. "Once resurfacing is done, commuters will get some relief," Malunde said.
However, commuters and experts believe patchwork is insufficient. "Nearly 70% of the stretch is damaged. Patchwork won't help. The road needs a complete overhaul," asserted Sajid Shaikh, a professor from Chikhali. The road, now designated as National Highway NH-753F, is under the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) for a complete reconstruction.
A PWD official explained that MSIDC intends to implement a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme but has faced difficulties attracting a concessionaire due to the relatively short length of the segment. The stretch was previously managed by a concessionaire until 2020, after which it reverted to PWD. While a government resolution authorising the transfer to MSIDC has been issued, the final handover is yet to be completed, leaving commuters in a prolonged state of distress.
Frustration with the authorities is palpable among daily users. Tanvi Shaikh, a frequent commuter, criticised the government's priorities, saying, "They are more focused on renaming cities than addressing basic infrastructure issues." For now, the wait for a safe and smooth journey between Pune and Sambhajinagar continues, with hopes pinned on the promised overhaul.
