Pune: Automated Vehicles to Map and Fix Pimpri-Chinchwad’s Troubled Roads
Pimpri, 4th December 2024: Despite the end of the monsoon season, over 300 potholes continue to plague the roads of Pimpri-Chinchwad. In response, the Municipal Corporation’s civil department has initiated an automated road survey to assess the condition of roads and prioritize repairs. The survey, expected to be completed within a month, will pave the way for filling the remaining potholes and improving road quality.
The city has approximately 273 kilometers of roads, of which 1200 kilometers of older roads have been surveyed using advanced automated vehicles equipped with six cameras and sensors. The contract for the survey has been awarded to Pev Tech on a per-kilometer rate.
During this year’s monsoon, a staggering 6246 potholes emerged on the city’s roads, of which 5940 have been repaired. The remaining 306 potholes are yet to be addressed. The new automated survey aims to pinpoint these remaining issues and ensure thorough maintenance.
The survey adheres to the guidelines set by the Indian Road Congress and will include a structural assessment of the roads. The data collected will be integrated into the Municipal Geographic Information System (GIS), enabling precise monitoring and efficient planning for repairs.
According to City Engineer Makarand Nikam, the automated technology and GIS-based approach will not only streamline road maintenance but also improve construction quality and budget allocation. The survey includes capturing high-resolution photographs every 10 meters, highlighting potholes, broken sidewalks, and other road defects.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) claims this initiative will reduce recurring pothole issues, enhance road durability, and address citizen grievances more effectively.
