Pune: PMC Engineers Face Show-Cause Notices As Poor Road Conditions Prompt Action
Pune, 24th July 2023: The deteriorating state of roads in Pune has finally compelled the civic body to take action against its engineers. Show-cause notices have been issued to four officials whose areas of jurisdiction were found to have severely damaged roads filled with potholes.
Vikas Dhakane, the additional commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated, “The officials have been directed to immediately undertake road repairs with a focus on ensuring good quality work. Failure to comply will lead to strict disciplinary action, including fines, suspensions, or blocking of promotions.”
While civic activists in Pune have welcomed the action, they emphasize that senior officials must also be held accountable. Without ensuring the involvement of higher-ranking authorities, the PMC’s action may not serve as an effective deterrent.
Officials from PMC disclosed that surveys were conducted at various locations, including Balewadi, Mumbai-Pune highway, Wakadewadi, Karve Road, Kothrud, Mitra Mandal Chowk, and Laxmi Road. Numerous stretches were found to be plagued with potholes, resulting in the issuance of notices to junior engineers responsible for those areas.
Last year, PMC faced criticism for poorly maintained roads during the monsoon season. Roads under the defect-liability period (DLP) were damaged, and repair work was significantly delayed. As a result, PMC fined 33 contractors and blacklisted 13 for delivering substandard work. Unfortunately, even during the guarantee period, potholes persisted, leading to fines totaling around Rs 80 lakh. The accountability extended beyond the contractors, as 23 civic officials were fined Rs 15,000 each for their failure to adequately monitor the projects. In its 2022 monsoon survey, the civic body identified 2,099 damaged stretches and sought assistance from a third-party to evaluate road quality and pothole issues.
PMC has now initiated a helpline and introduced a WhatsApp number (9049271003) for citizens to report damaged roads. Within just two months, the civic body received 160 pothole-related complaints.
Responding to the recent showers, a senior PMC officer acknowledged that the number of calls may increase with more intense and frequent rainfall. To address the pothole crisis, a four-day deadline has been set for repairs.
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