Potholes and High Spots on Pune Roads: Sewage Channel Covers Cause Driving Hazards
Pune, 17th December 2024: Uneven sewage and rainwater channel covers on roads across Pune are causing significant inconvenience to drivers and have been linked to accidents in multiple areas. The issue arises due to covers that are either below or above road level, resulting in potholes, high spots, and an uneven driving surface.
Pune has 1,600 kilometers of roads, which the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) repairs annually for various reasons, including the laying of water pipes, sewage lines, MNGL pipes, and cables. While PMC spends crores of rupees through contractors to repair and maintain these roads, the work often leads to additional problems, particularly with sewage channel covers.
When repairing roads, contractors frequently neglect to adjust the height of sewage covers to match the new road surface. This results in raised or sunken covers that create driving hazards. Residents have reported that vehicles often hit these uneven spots, leading to accidents and causing physical discomfort to drivers.
Sewage channel covers that are lower or higher than the road cause shocks, leading to back and neck pain for drivers. Citizens have also expressed concern about damage to vehicles and the safety risks posed by such issues.
In some areas, the iron covers of sewage channels have broken, while others are missing altogether, leaving open drains that are dangerous for pedestrians and vehicles alike.
The problem is widespread and has been reported in several areas, including:
Lokmanyanagar
Dhankawadi
Chavannagar
Padmavati
Aranyeshwar
Parvati area
Shivdarshan
Bajirao Road
Sadashiv Peth
Narayan Peth
Shaniwar Peth
At Gyanprabodhini in Sadashiv Peth, the iron mesh covering the sewage channel has broken, creating additional hazards for drivers and pedestrians.
Acknowledging the complaints, the Pune Municipal Corporation has conducted a survey of sewage channel covers across the city. According to Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of the PMC’s road department, work is underway to repair the damaged and uneven covers. This work is expected to be completed by January 15.
Despite PMC’s assurances, the problem appears to be rooted in contractor negligence and inadequate oversight by the municipal road department. Residents argue that contractors often rush through projects without ensuring the quality of work, while PMC officials fail to properly inspect and enforce standards after the work is completed.
The consequences of these issues include:
Broken rainwater drain covers
Difficulty driving due to covers that are higher or lower than the road
Missing covers, posing a risk to pedestrians and vehicles
Poor coordination between road construction and cover alignment
