Pune: PMC Stormwater Drainage Work Leaves Handewadi Road Choked with Traffic, Potholes
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Hadapsar, 25th June 2026: Commuters using the Sayyed Nagar railway crossing on Handewadi Road have been grappling with severe traffic congestion for nearly a month due to ongoing Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) stormwater drainage and chamber construction work. The road serves as a key link connecting Handewadi, Mohammadwadi, Sayyed Nagar, Sasane Nagar and the Solapur Highway, witnessing heavy movement of two-wheelers, cars, buses and commercial vehicles throughout the day.
Residents said the situation becomes particularly difficult between 4 pm and 7 pm, when traffic frequently comes to a standstill. In addition to the ongoing excavation work, the stretch is riddled with large potholes, uneven road surfaces and a narrow carriageway, making it difficult for vehicles to pass safely. The movement of heavy vehicles further worsens congestion, forcing commuters to endure long delays.
Nilam Mankar, a resident, said, “The road is full of potholes, and traffic remains jammed every evening. The work should be completed quickly, and the road should be repaired immediately.”
Another resident, Hussain Syed, said, “Heavy vehicles, poor road conditions and the ongoing work have made daily travel difficult. Proper traffic management is urgently needed until the project is completed.”
A traffic police officer deployed at the location said managing congestion has become a major challenge.
“The road is very narrow, and vehicles from Sayyed Nagar, Chintamani Nagar and Handewadi Road converge at this junction. I am the only traffic police officer deployed here, which makes it difficult to manage the heavy rush during peak hours,” the officer said.
PMC officials confirmed that the work involves the construction of a stormwater drainage line and drainage chambers.
Ward No. 41 Corporator Prachi Alhat said she would coordinate with the Junior Engineer and the contractor to ensure the project is completed at the earliest.
“The project was given a deadline of around 10 days, and I will follow up with the concerned officials to ensure that the work is completed as soon as possible,” she said.
PMC Junior Engineer Bapu Raghunath Baravkar, who is supervising the project, said all necessary permissions had been obtained before the work commenced.
“The stormwater drainage excavation work is being carried out after 11 pm to minimise inconvenience to commuters, while chamber construction is undertaken during the afternoon. We obtained all necessary permissions from the Traffic Police before starting the project. Both the stormwater drainage and chamber works will be completed within a week, after which road restoration work will begin immediately,” he said.
According to the PMC, the stormwater drainage project is aimed at improving rainwater flow during the monsoon and preventing waterlogging along the stretch.
Residents have urged the civic body to complete the work within the promised timeline and restore the damaged road at the earliest to ensure smooth and safe traffic movement.
