Pratik Kachi, who was passing RTO Chowk, said, “The rough road surface here makes it harder for two-wheeler riders to navigate. Although the road was repaired just a few days ago, it developed many potholes again.” The situation was particularly challenging on Sinhagad Road, too, where traffic inched forward on the stretch from Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass to Swargate. Vijay Kodre, a resident of Mundhwa, reiterated, “There is an urgent need for repairs and restoration of roads at the moment.” Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials told TOI that road maintenance vans have been deployed in five zones to prioritise repairs of main roads. “Complaints of potholes raised by citizens via the Road Mitra app are also being addressed,” an official said. Civic activists, however, are unhappy with PMC’s repairs, saying that such repeated deterioration of roads points to poor-quality work and material. Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said, “The same stretches are developing potholes and undergoing repairs repeatedly. This shows that resurfacing works are not up to the mark. PMC should carry out third-party inspections of repairs to check quality of work done by their contractors.” Since its launch in Aug this year, PMC’s road complaint app — Road Mitra — has received over 1,000 complaints. Officials claimed maximum complaints are being addressed. However, several citizens have countered that officials should also include an option for continuous maintenance of roads in addition to repairs. Meanwhile, at Golibar Maidan Chowk and on Solapur Highway, traffic police constables and officers took it upon themselves on Monday to fill over 10 large potholes that were causing traffic jams, using paver blocks, gravel, and mud. The personnel decided to take up the task after visiting Pune Cantonment Board’s (PCB) office, where they reportedly requested officials to repair the roads, but were informed that it is the state public works department’s responsibility.
