Pune: PMC intensifies chamber levelling drive; 1,283 fixed so far

Pune, 20th March 2026: Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has directed officials to expedite ongoing work to bring roadside chambers to level across the city, stressing that maximum chambers should be aligned on a daily basis.

The directive was issued during a review meeting held on Friday, where the civic administration was asked to speed up the work.

Ram said that so far, around 1,283 chambers, including those on stormwater drains and sewer lines, have been brought to road level across the city during the ongoing drive. While the road department is handling chambers on stormwater lines, the drainage department is responsible for circular sewer chambers.

Civic officials said the work is aimed at preventing accidents caused by depressions formed when chamber covers sink below road level after asphalting.

The PMC has appointed multiple contractors in each ward office to carry out the work. Daily progress reports are being submitted to the commissioner for monitoring.

However, officials said the work is facing challenges during night hours. Complaints have been received from residents and students over noise caused by road cutting and breaking, especially during the ongoing examination period. Authorities said work is being carried out at feasible locations while taking necessary precautions.

The campaign to bring chambers to road level was formally launched on December 15, last year, as part of the civic body’s pothole-free roads initiative, in line with directions from the Bombay High Court to local bodies.

Earlier, around 2,000 chambers were levelled along the route of an international cycling event held in the city, though the work was limited to the event route at the time. The civic body is now extending the exercise across the city.