Pune: Contractors who upgraded nearly 300km of state and rural roads for the international cycling event being held in the city from Jan 19 to 23 will be responsible for their maintenance for the next five years.Under a strict defect liability clause, Public Works Department (PWD) officials confirmed that this arrangement will ensure the roads remain in top condition while providing substantial savings to the state exchequer.The Pune Grand Tour, an international cycling event held for the first time in India, required the development of 437km of road stretches across the district. Of this, 294km fall under PWD jurisdiction in rural areas. These stretches were widened or rebuilt using high-end construction technology to meet international cycling standards. The remaining portions of the race route were handled by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Of the 294 km managed by the PWD, approximately 90km were widened from a 3.75-metre to a 5.5-metre carriageway. This ensures a minimum total road width of 7 metres, including side shoulders, providing safer and smoother conditions for both professional cyclists and local commuters. “These roads will not require govt-funded maintenance for the next five years. The contractors who executed the work are bound by the defect liability clause to maintain them until 2031,” a senior PWD official told TOI. The upgraded stretches include state highways and rural roads designed with specific provisions for professional cycling. Officials noted that road widening layers were applied based on site-specific requirements, particularly in sections utilising cement-treated base courses. To ensure the uniform riding quality essential for competitive cycling, full-width pavers were used across the entire carriageway. Safety was also a priority. “All turns and curves were geometrically improved. In ghat sections and on bridges, safety crash barriers and galvanised iron mesh were installed,” an official added. Sixteen contractors were tasked with completing the work across the talukas of Baramati, Purandar, Bhor, Velhe, Haveli, Maval, and Mulshi. To ensure quality, the PWD appointed consultants for oversight and conducted third-party audits. Selection criteria for contractors were stringent, requiring the capacity to complete work within 100 days, financial stability, and a proven track record. The project cost of Rs295 crore is being shared by multiple agencies, with PMRDA providing Rs195 crore, state govt contributing Rs70 crore and District Planning and Development Committee sanctioning Rs30 crore.Beyond the five-day event, the infrastructure project is expected to transform local connectivity. “The upgraded network will benefit thousands of residents in the talukas who have long struggled with poor road conditions,” an official said. “The cycling event has served as a catalyst for much-needed rural infrastructure development, and with contractors accountable for five years of maintenance, these roads will remain in peak condition well into the future.”
