Potholes continue to appear across city despite Aug 9 repair deadline

The scenario seems to point at something drastically wrong in the way roads are being constructed and maintained by the PMC

Pune

Many roads in Peth areas and central areas are riddled with traffic snarls owing to potholes on the roads. (RAHUL RAUT/ HT PHOTO)

PUNE: While the August 9 deadline for repairing potholes is just-round-the-corner, Punekars are continuing to witness potholes across the city. Whereas the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) road department is claiming that as many as 3,735 potholes have been repaired between June and now and that the number of potholes is less this year as compared to 2022.

Additional municipal commissioner Vikas Dhakane has given an August 9 deadline for repairing potholes, giving priority to 15 major roads. However, potholes continue to be seen on Ganeshkhind Road, Pashan Road, and at Vishrantwadi, Aundh, Baner, Bibwewadi, Swargate and the central areas of the city. The scenario seems to point at something drastically wrong in the way roads are being constructed and maintained by the PMC. Not only is it causing a huge drain on public money but also has serious implications for citizens in terms of traffic congestion, pollution, health and safety among others.

According to Prashant Inamdar, member, road development and road maintenance committee of the PMC and convenor of ‘Pedestrians First’, “Citizens are now once again experiencing the same old annual nightmare of potholes on roads during the rainy season. It is shocking that the roads constructed/repaired only a few months earlier have also developed potholes. Even concrete roads which are supposed to last for 25 years are getting damaged within a short period of time. The rain cannot be the only reason for this year after year…”

Additional municipal commissioner Dhakane said, “We have warned of administrative action against junior engineers in charge of roads if they fail to get the work done. However, we are confident that the work will be completed as per the deadline. A few days ago, we sent show cause notices to four junior engineers. Now, we will wait for the deadline before taking action against such engineers.”

“We need Rs1,800 crores to have smooth and pothole-free roads in the city. Budget is our main concern. We get around Rs250 to Rs300 crores in funds for road-related work which is not enough. Now, the newly merged villages are also part of the corporation and we have to take care of roads in those areas as well. However, we are trying our best to give better roads to citizens,” Dhakane said.

Sahebrao Dhandge, superintendent engineer of the PMC road department, said, “We are using hot and cold mix material to repair potholes. From June 1 till date, we have registered 3,800 potholes out of which, we have repaired 3,735 potholes in different parts of the city.”

Inamdar said, “The PMC as usual has been quick to declare that it will get the roads repaired on a war footing. However, simply getting the roads repaired haphazardly to somehow manage the situation on a short-term basis cannot be the solution to this chronic problem. It is necessary that before taking up any further work of construction, maintenance or repair of roads, the PMC should formulate a proper policy for road construction and maintenance.” Other politicians and civic activists too are criticising the administration for wasting public money on temporary fixes instead of finding permanent and scientific solutions for the problem of potholes.

Ujjwal Keskar, former opposition leader in the PMC and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, alleged that the corporation has spent Rs2,100 crores in the last six years only on pothole repairs and road maintenance. He demanded that the PMC should upload information about pothole repairs and road maintenance on its website to inform people about the road works.