Pune: Hard to buy, but true. Headlights of vehicles coming from the opposite direction show motorists the way on the stretch between Bishop’s School and Prince of Wales Road in Pune Cantonment. The same headlights — when on high beam — become a hazard on the 4-5km route.“Most four-wheelers use high beams and don’t bother dipping them, making it risky for us. There are street lights, but none work. During the rain, I keep praying until I cross that road,” said Wanowrie’s private sector employee Animesh Satar.Commuters said negotiating the road towards south Pune had become an ordeal. Heavy rain often reduces the visibility further.“It was terrifying on Thursday. Pulgate was choked with traffic, so I took this route. After crossing the only functioning mast light near Bishop’s School, the road went completely dark. I had to stop for a few moments to muster courage before moving ahead. The stretch is riddled with potholes. Driving is extremely dangerous in the absence of street lights. The glare from vehicles coming from the opposite direction was blinding, while the dense trees made me fear a sudden tree fall. It is unfortunate that the authorities have allowed the situation to deteriorate like this,” said Ahmed Sheikh, also from Wanowrie.An internal Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) survey conducted in Feb found that over 550 streetlight fittings had been damaged over the previous two years. Last month, officials said around 200 dysfunctional lights had been repaired following repeated complaints, but acknowledged that more than 500 damaged fittings still remain unattended.The PCB’s officiating executive engineer, Vijay Chavan, said the ageing streetlight infrastructure had deteriorated over the years but assured that repairs on the affected stretch would be completed within a week. “We have planned the work on this road and expect it to be completed within a week. We have also repaired the electrical lines in the surrounding areas,” Chavan said.Senior PCB engineering officials admitted that severe financial constraints over the past three years had prevented comprehensive replacement of the streetlight network, forcing the board to rely on temporary repairs. “The problem has become acute and several stretches remain dark. Recent rainfall has delayed our work, but we expect to restore lights at most affected patches across the cantonment area in the coming weeks,” another official said.Commuters were unconvinced. “Are officials waiting for a fatal accident before acting? They should restore some of the street lights immediately. The alternative routes to Fatimanagar are much longer, while the Pulgate road is perpetually jammed. Even on dry days, driving through Prince of Wales Road has become hazardous because of potholes and darkness. Traffic at the Prince of Wales Road junction remained gridlocked for nearly 45 minutes on Thursday. Motorists were stranded in complete darkness,” said graphic designer Pallav Krishna Kumar.(With inputs from Sandip Dighe)===========
