The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest at Pune's Bhawani Peth Ward Office a few months ago, demanding complete repair and resurfacing of roads in the area. Although the civic authorities undertook the repair work and filled asphalt in the potholes soon after the agitation, within a few months, the potholes have re-emerged.
The deteriorating condition of roads in Ward No. 18 has sparked public outrage. The worst-affected stretches are between the church in Khadakmal Ali and Shitladevi Chowk, where a massive pothole measuring nearly 15 to 20 feet has formed on the narrow road. Commuters are facing significant inconvenience and safety risks as a result.
To draw the attention of the civic body, the MNS workers decorated the potholes with a rangoli, garlands and even placed a potted plant in it. MNS leaders Ravi Sahane and Sangram Talekar have written a letter to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) demanding immediate repair of potholes in the area.
“We demand urgent repair of these potholes as they pose a life threat to the commuters. The pothole is filled with rainwater, which can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. If the PMC fails to act swiftly, we will bring the water from this pothole directly to the municipal office. What kind of material is being used that just one rain is tearing the road apart, and potholes are re-emerging after every few months? We demand that the potholes be filled in two days,” said Sahane.
Residents are expressing growing frustration over the recurring issue and alleged administrative apathy. They have urged the authorities to take urgent and lasting action to ensure safe and smooth roads in the area.
Rohini Parth, a resident of Kasba Peth, said, “The authorities should be swift in filling the potholes, especially during monsoon, as it can lead to a big accident. This particular pothole was filled a few months ago, and now it has emerged again, and the administration is simply ignoring it. We demand that this pothole be filled at the earliest.”
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, PMC Road Department head Aniruddha Pawaskar said, “The repair work has not stopped even for a day; we are constantly repairing the city roads throughout the year. Even during the heavy rains, the work of repair never stopped. And there is no question of quality; it is not being compromised. We use the best quality asphalt for filling the potholes. We have no control over natural phenomena like heavy rains. The rains can indeed cause asphalt roads to deteriorate and become more susceptible to damage. The primary reason is that water can penetrate the road's surface and weaken the bond between the asphalt and the underlying materials. This weakening can lead to potholes and other road surface imperfections.”
