Negligent Roadwork in Pune ‘Culpable Homicide’, Say Petitioners After Fatal Nagras Road Accident

Aundh, 3rd August 2025: A recent fatal road accident on Nagras Road has reignited public concern over the state of Pune’s roads, prompting strong allegations from civic activists. Petitioners Qaneez-e-Fatemah Sukhrani and Pushkar Kulkarni, who have been actively pursuing the matter in court, have termed the municipal corporation’s continued negligence as “tantamount to culpable homicide” under Section 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The activists say that despite multiple High Court orders and the formation of expert panels over the years, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has failed to act decisively to ensure pothole-free, scientifically constructed roads across the city.

“Blood on the Asphalt”

“In light of repeated court orders, PMC’s inaction is no longer just administrative failure — it’s criminal negligence,” said Qaneez Sukhrani, co-petitioner in PIL 88 of 2023. “When you knowingly ignore expert recommendations and accidents continue to happen, it becomes culpable homicide. The Commissioner must take direct responsibility.”

Pushkar Kulkarni, the co-petitioner, echoed these concerns. “It is tragic that we had to return to court after orders in 2006 and 2013 went unimplemented. There is no consistent standard operating procedure, no real-time accountability, and no will to address the nexus between contractors and PMC officials.”

Legal History and Court Orders

PIL 88 of 2023 was the third such petition filed by Sukhrani and Kulkarni, following PIL 111 of 2006 and PIL 71 of 2013. The Bombay High Court in its February 6, 2025 order, criticized PMC for failing to uphold citizens’ fundamental right to safe roads under Article 21 of the Constitution and Section 63(18) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949.

The court directed that the Road Development and Road Maintenance Committee (RDRMC) — reconstituted in March 2024 — must function regularly. Sukhrani, who is a member of the committee, has been mandated to continue providing expert inputs.

Despite this, the committee met only six times in the past year, with an 8.5-month gap between crucial monsoon and dry months — a time that could have been used for proactive road repairs.

No SOP, No Accountability

The petitioners expressed disappointment that PMC has yet to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) that would fix accountability across all levels of its engineering department.

“It was only last week — after repeated demands — that the Commissioner made it mandatory for Engineers India Ltd (EIL) to audit all road works above ₹5 lakh. But this should have been implemented long ago,” said Kulkarni.

The petition also called out PMC’s failure to act on recommendations made in earlier expert reports — the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) report of 2013 and the RDRMC report of 2016 — which laid out over 200 action points collectively.

Citizens at Risk

Real-time photos shared by the petitioners show cracked, sunken manholes and roads riddled with potholes across key areas. “This isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s endangering lives daily,” said Sukhrani. “If someone falls into a pothole and dies, the fault lies squarely with those entrusted to prevent it.”

Petitioners say that PMC’s recent launch of the “PMC Road Mitra” app (July 2025) is a step forward but not enough. “There has been no mechanism for citizen grievances or redressal so far. And the app itself is too new to be effective in a city-wide context,” Sukhrani added.

They have also urged the administration to make third-party audits by COEP and EIL mandatory for all major road works, a recommendation the Commissioner recently accepted.

A Pattern of Neglect

Activists say PMC has consistently ignored expert guidance, choosing instead patchwork repairs and ad-hoc measures. “Every monsoon, we see the same scenario — dangerous, uneven roads that are patched over only when a fatality occurs,” said Kulkarni.

The petitioners maintain that unless PMC institutes accountability at every level and proactively implements expert recommendations, the city will continue to suffer — both in lives lost and taxpayer money wasted.

The court has allowed petitioners to re-approach in case of further breaches — a door they say they will keep open.