Pune: For techie Sandip Kulkarni, every commute near RTO Chowk has become a test of patience and skill as he navigates a road riddled with potholes and uneven patches. But there may finally be some relief. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a citywide drive to repair all major damaged road stretches ahead of Ganesh festival, starting Sept 14.The urgency followed instructions from mayor Manjusha Nagpure amid mounting complaints from citizens struggling daily with potholes, broken surfaces and traffic snarls caused by the deteriorating road network. “We have sought daily updates on road repairs and resurfacing from executive engineers and all 15 ward offices. The repair work is continuing even during night hours to minimise inconvenience to commuters,” Rajesh Bankar, head of PMC’s road department, said.While PMC’s road department has yet to determine the exact number of potholes and damaged stretches that need attention, officials admitted that the coming fortnight would be crucial. “Our immediate focus is on patchwork and resurfacing of heavily damaged roads. A break in rain could significantly speed up the work,” an official said.According to Bankar, PMC is using both hot mix and cold mix technologies for repairs. “So far, resurfacing work has covered nearly 5,000sqm, while more than 350 damaged locations have been repaired using paver blocks. Contractors have also been instructed to photograph completed work as proof of progress,” he said.The administration has urged citizens to report potholes directly to their respective ward offices. Many frequent road users, however, remain sceptical about whether PMC can complete the mammoth task before the city plunges into Ganeshotsav celebrations.Civic activist Vivek Velankar questioned the effectiveness of such repair drives, arguing that they often raised concerns about the quality of work. “We hear announcements of intensive road repair campaigns every year, but the real issue is quality. Poor patchwork often begins to crumble within days. Many repaired sections fail to blend with the existing road surface, creating fresh rough patches and eventually leading to further damage,” he said.Opposition leaders within PMC have also sharpened their criticism, warning that they would hold the administration accountable for substandard repairs. “The authorities cannot keep blaming continuous rainfall for the condition of Pune’s roads. PMC must closely monitor the quality of materials being used. Ganesh mandals have already started erecting pandals across the city, and with the festival fast approaching, we have serious doubts whether all the repair work can be completed within 15 days,” Vinod Rokade, an activist from Bopodi, said.
