Pune: Painted with potholes and splattered with mud, the road network in Hinjewadi has turned the usually bustling area into a hotspot of despair, with residents and commuters battling to navigate the rough pathways, especially in Phase 3’s Megapolis Saffron area, where accidents have become a recurring red flag.Even Baramati MP Supriya Sule shared a video on X showcasing the area’s deplorable road conditions on Sunday, posting about the ‘terrible condition of roads in the Megapolis Saffron area of Hinjewadi phase 3,’ where she said several major and minor accidents occurred due to poor roads. Residents are now demanding immediate and lasting fix for the roads to revive the area’s dignity.Saurabh Kulkarni, an IT professional residing in Chikhali, had a harrowing experience when his two-wheeler hit a pothole, leaving him with injuries. “I was on my way to catch up with a friend after a meeting when my bike hit a pothole and skidded on the uneven road ahead. I suffered cuts, scratches and a leg sprain. I wonder why are we paying taxes if not for basic infrastructure? We don’t need futuristic hyperloops when we can’t even get decent roads. Give us good roads, decent footpaths, reliable public transport, and clean air and water. That’s all we want,” Kulkarni said.Pavanjit Mane, president of FITE (Forum for IT Employees) Maharashtra, said only two lanes of the six-lane highway from Mhalunge to Hinjewadi Phase-I were open to traffic because of mud, sand and gravel strewn on the road by heavy vehicles carrying construction material. “Despite massive housing projects worth thousands of crores of rupees, builders are prioritising profits over safety, leaving roads littered with debris and mud. This negligence is claiming lives, with multiple daily two-wheeler accidents. When will govt take notice and act before it’s too late?” Mane said.PMRDA officials said they were holding daily and weekly review meetings to address traffic congestion and infrastructure issues plaguing the area. “The work is divided into short- and long-term measures. Basic road repair works should be completed by Nov, while long-term measures like land acquisition for road widening, stormwater drain construction and encroachment removal will take more time,” an official said after a review meeting on Monday.The official said continuous rainfall delayed repair works. “But, contractors are on board and working across all stretches,” he said.When asked specifically about MP Sule’s post, the official said the work was being carried out jointly by MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) and PMRDA. “Once there is a dry spell, more repair works will be taken up,” the official said. He said encroachments along a 19km stretch were cleared in joint action with MIDC, while road carpeting below the Metro was also under way. “These actions are being carried out under the directives of CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Regular updates are being shared with their offices too,” the official said. The commissioner has directed that land measurement and acquisition proposals be submitted on priority, he added.
