Poor Coordination, Delayed Road Restoration Behind Pune Pothole Crisis: PMC Chief

Pune, 5th August 2026: Pune Municipal Commissioner Navalkishor Ram has admitted that the city’s worsening pothole problem is the result not just of heavy rainfall but also of poor execution and lack of coordination among civic departments.

Addressing reporters after chairing a nearly three-hour review meeting on potholes, Ram said roads dug up by departments such as water supply, drainage and MNGL were not restored within the mandatory 48-hour period. In several cases, he said, one department excavated roads while another failed to properly restore them, allowing rainwater to seep into the road base and cause extensive damage.

The commissioner said all potholes in the city have been ordered to be repaired in “mission mode”. However, with a major part of the monsoon already over, commuters continue to grapple with pothole-ridden roads across the city, raising questions over the pace of repairs.

Ram said poor-quality restoration work, or the complete absence of reinstatement after excavation, was one of the primary reasons behind the widespread road damage. He acknowledged that major roads, including Nagar Road, the Katraj-Kondhwa Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Sahakarnagar, Gangadham and roads in newly merged villages, continue to be in poor condition.

He said pending tenders for road repairs would be expedited and the civic body aims to complete pothole repairs across the city by October.

According to the commissioner, around 8,000 sq m of potholes have been repaired using cold mix, hot mix and paver block techniques. However, he admitted that the work carried out so far is inadequate considering the extent of road damage across the city.

Ram also flagged delays in road, drainage and maintenance projects due to pending tenders. He said interference, external pressure and delays in the tender approval process have stalled several development works. Warning of strict action, he said the road department’s tendering process must be “100% transparent” and that any interference in the process would not be tolerated.

The commissioner identified the key reasons for the pothole crisis as delayed road restoration after excavation, violation of the 48-hour restoration rule, poor coordination between road, drainage, water supply and MNGL departments, rainwater seeping into the road base, delays in repair tenders, and inadequate monitoring at the ward level.