A two-hour spell of rain on Tuesday brought traffic to scrawl, as major roads were seen waterlogged. Pedestrians were spotted wading through accumulated water in Kothrud. Some vehicles broke down, disrupting traffic. Those who managed to stay at home also complained about waterlogging in residential colonies.
Aniket Rathi, a commuter, said, "Two hours of rain has created a waterlogging situation at various locations across Pune. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is carrying out slow civic repairs due to which we are facing issues. The authorities should speed up the monsoon repair work because it is causing traffic, and the waterlogging situation can turn into floods if the situation remains the same."
Namrata Tomar, a student, added, "Waterlogging can be seen on most of the key roads. The ongoing road excavation works have further aggravated the situation. We fear the combination of heavy rains and open trenches could pose serious safety risks as the roads have become more slippery."
The ongoing road excavations across the city for water pipelines and drainage works have further worsened conditions. Large potholes have led to water accumulation, adding to commuters’ woes. Residents are now urging the authorities to expedite pending infrastructure projects before the monsoon intensifies.
In Bibwewadi’s Chintamani Nagar, residents voiced similar concerns. They highlighted that the road near Mahesh Society has been dug up for water pipelines and drainage work for several months. As the monsoon approaches, PMC should accelerate repairs. As rainfall intensity has increased in recent years, leading to severe flooding.
Similarly, roads in Uttam Nagar are also filled with water, and locals pointed out that wires can be seen near the MSEB junction box, which again poses a risk of electrocution. Residents demand that the PMC Electric Department take care of these wires, as pedestrians are not aware of live wires and it may cause serious accidents and injuries.
Prithviraj BP, Additional Commissioner, PMC, speaking to The Free Press Journal, said, "We are ensuring minimal inconvenience to residents. Excavated sludge from stormwater and drainage lines was initially left at work sites, but it has been removed to prevent it from washing back into chambers. Roadwork is also progressing and will be finished as per the designated time."
Meanwhile, the recently inaugurated Sinhagad Road flyover's poor drainage system has drawn flak. A video has gone viral which shows water from the flyover splashing onto the people passing below. It has raised concerns about the quality and planning of the flyover.
