Pune Battles Potholes: New Telephone Service for Reporting Road Damage
Pune, 7th August 2024: The city of Pune has been severely affected by heavy rains, resulting in numerous potholes across its roads. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a special telephone service to allow citizens to report the locations of potholes. This initiative aims to streamline the repair process and ensure timely action on reported issues.
The PMC has already begun extensive repair work to address the pothole problem. In the past three days, the municipal team has filled 1,224 potholes on major roads. Additionally, patchwork has been completed on 153 other damaged areas. Roads with a higher concentration of potholes will undergo resurfacing to provide a more permanent solution. The ongoing repairs are expected to cost the municipal corporation several crores of rupees.
The relentless rains have left Pune’s roads in a deteriorated state, with a significant number of potholes forming on various streets. Last year’s extensive excavation works by various municipal departments, government, and semi-government organizations to upgrade infrastructure facilities contributed to the current condition of the roads. The continuous downpours have exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread damage, especially on asphalt roads.
The PMC’s road repair efforts were initially hampered by the persistent rains. However, a focused campaign to fill the potholes commenced on Saturday night. The Road Department, led by Chief Engineer Anirudh Pavaskar, has been using cement and asphalt materials for the repairs. Cement is being used for both pothole filling and patchwork to ensure durability and effectiveness.
To facilitate citizen participation and ensure prompt repair work, the PMC has introduced a dedicated telephone service for reporting potholes. Citizens can now inform the Road Department about pothole locations by calling the following numbers: 020-25501083 or 9043271003. This service is expected to enhance the efficiency of the municipal response and improve road conditions across the city.
