Pune’s Pothole Puzzle: Rs 2,100 Crores Later, Roads Remain A Bumpy Ride
Pune, 22nd August 2023: Over the past six years, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has allocated a staggering sum of nearly Rs 2,100 crores towards road maintenance. However, the city’s roads continue to be plagued by potholes and deteriorating conditions, necessitating an additional infusion of at least Rs 1,000 crores to rectify the situation.
Despite recent approvals for road repair projects amounting to Rs 400 crores, concerns arise about the effectiveness of such investments.
With funds in scarcity and a cycle of partial road repairs and subsequent excavation, the city’s thoroughfares are at risk of returning to their pothole-ridden state, casting doubt on the prospects of smooth roads in the near future. Notably, an expenditure of Rs 400 crores has been greenlit for road repairs in recent days, raising questions about the efficiency of these endeavors.
Addressing these challenges necessitates a coordinated effort among departments, as emphasized by VG Kulkarni, Chief Engineer of the Road Department. Achieving comprehensive road repair and maintenance hinges on efficient collaboration and strategic resource allocation.
The predicament extends beyond road repairs alone, involving the municipal corporation’s sewerage and electricity departments, as well as the extensive excavation necessitated by metro line construction and service channel installations conducted by private, governmental, and semi-governmental entities. The persistent digging, except during the monsoon season, contributes to the proliferation of potholes across the city’s roads, rendering road repair efforts by the municipal corporation akin to temporary bandages.
Within the last six years, the PMC has funneled a substantial Rs 2,100 crores into road repairs. Unfortunately, despite this investment, road conditions remain subpar. The dearth of funds, coupled with the cyclical process of re-digging roads after initial repairs and substandard repair quality, contribute to the exacerbation of pothole issues.
The Road Department of the PMC has been allotted Rs 400 crores this year for road repair, in addition to regional-level funds allocated for the same purpose. Despite repair works carried out during the monsoon season, the methods employed during these efforts have drawn criticism for their unscientific approach.
One noteworthy aspect of the current road repair approach is the intermittent nature of the work. Rather than comprehensive road restoration, repairs are executed periodically, negatively impacting the entire road network. This practice often leads to roads being dug up again shortly after repair efforts are completed, perpetuating the cycle of disrepair. This year mirrors the same pattern, raising doubts about the lasting effectiveness of these initiatives.
To fully restore the city’s road network, a budget of no less than Rs 1,000 crores is imperative. However, due to the phased allocation of funds to the PMC, the scope of road repairs is inherently constrained.
Extent of the Road Network: The city’s road network encompasses a total length of 1,398.65 kilometers, comprising roads of varying widths. This includes 970.86 kilometers of roads less than 12 meters wide, 314 kilometers of roads ranging from 12 to 14 meters wide, 60.54 kilometers of roads measuring 24 to 30 meters in width, 29.96 kilometers of roads spanning 30 to 36 meters, and 23.29 kilometers of roads between 36 and 61 meters wide. Among these, the network comprises 944.12 kilometers of asphalt roads and 210.39 kilometers of concrete roads.
Expenditure Over Six Years:
- 2017-18: Rs 423 crores
- 2018-19: Rs 438 crores
- 2019-20: Rs 305 crores
- 2020-21: Rs 453 crores
- 2021-22: Rs 361 crores
- 2022-23: Rs 200 crores
