Pune: Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) commissioner Yogesh Mhase has told officials, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and other agencies concerned to complete all pothole repair works in and around Hinjewadi IT Park by Dec 5.Mhase, appointed as the single-point authority for infrastructure issues in Hinjewadi, chaired a meeting on Wednesday with officials from the police department, Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, MIDC, the local gram panchayat, and representatives of IT employees to review the progress of the action taken on the problems flagged earlier. “Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads PMRDA, is expected to hold a separate review meeting in the first week of Dec, when he will take stock of PMRDA projects, including ongoing works in Hinjewadi,” Mhase told TOI on Thursday.He clarified that the fresh instructions on pothole repairs were not linked to the CM’s meeting. “The works were planned after the monsoon. Potholes were filled earlier, but many resurfaced, leading to repeated complaints from IT professionals. All agencies have now been directed to finish repairs by Dec 5,” Mhase said.Earlier this year, Fadnavis interacted with IT professionals and other stakeholders after residents flagged persistent infrastructure issues in the IT park area. Sachin Londhe, who attended Wednesday’s meeting as a representative of IT employees, said it was convened following an email campaign by IT professionals over poor road conditions.“Nearly 5,500 people sent emails highlighting the preparations for the upcoming international cycling event, when one of the tracks passes through Hinjewadi, while several internal roads remained in disrepair. The mails were marked to the CM, the PMRDA commissioner and all stakeholders,” he said, adding he then received a call from the CM’s office seeking details. Londhe further said the authorities only did temporary patchwork during the monsoon, which did not last long. An official from PMRDA said pothole repair works on the roads under the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line started on Thursday.Another IT professional present at the meeting said concerns over frequent accidents in the IT park area were also raised. “It was decided that if potholes are found to be the cause of accidents, not only truck drivers or vehicle owners but even officials in charge of road maintenance will be held responsible,” he said.Ensure completion by Nov 30: PCMCThe Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has asked all its engineers to ensure that potholes in the city are filled by Nov 30.Confirming the development, Makarand Nikam, city engineer with the civic body, told TOI: “Temporary works are also under way at places where roads were dug for various projects.”A civic official said 5,667 potholes had been reported since May, of which only 483 remained to be repaired.
