Pune: The standing committee on Thursday approved a proposal to set up a batch-mix asphalt plant, with a capacity to produce 160 tonnes per hour (TPH) mixture, in the Shindewadi octroi post area over 5.3 acre of land at a cost of Rs8 crore.The material would be supplied for road repairs in Katraj, Gujarwadi, Dhankawadi, Sinhagad Road and other areas in south Pune.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was looking for plots for the last few years to start the plant. The existing plant of 120 TPH capacity operational in Yerawada is not functioning properly and has been facing a lot of technical challenges. Repeated problems have hampered PMC’s overall efforts of road repair works and tarring.Standing committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale said the new plant would improve overall road construction and repairs. He said the land at Shindewadi octroi post was lying unused. “We will see that the work of setting up the plant begins at the earliest,” he said.Among other decisions at the standing committee meeting, Bhimale said the administration was urged to take up repairs of public toilets across the city ahead of Ganesh festival. He said there was a plan to increase the number of public toilets for women. A proposal for the same was under consideration and would be tabled soon.Corporators will hit the streets if road repairs not done: BhimaleStanding committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale said the administration had been urged to repair roads on priority over the next eight days or else corporators would take to the streets.He said, “We had a detailed discussion during Thursday’s meeting over the poor condition of roads. The administration will have to take up the work on priority.”On a proposal to extend financial assistance to the family of a 10-year-old boy who died in a road accident in Mhalunge, Bhimale said the issue would be discussed with the mayor and leaders of all parties. “PMC is checking all possible options to give assistance,” he added.
