The daily commute between Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has turned into a relentless endurance test. Cratered highways, jam-packed service lanes, and failed promises have sparked public outrage, forcing the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to finally crack the whip — issuing show-cause notices to 26 junior engineers for neglecting road repairs.
As the Mumbai-Pune highway stretch from Nigdi to Pimpri continues to be blanketed with potholes, the city`s suburbs and other arterial roads haven’t been spared either. Despite launching a dedicated ‘Pothole Management’ app in June, the PCMC has failed to keep pace with rising commuter frustration and deteriorating road conditions.
Civic action begins
“The show-cause notices have been issued to 26 junior engineers across all eight zones—A to H—for ignoring complaints and failing to maintain repair quality,” said Devanna Guttuvar, executive engineer, Civil Department, PCMC. “They’ve been given three days to reply in writing or face disciplinary action.”
Metro mess adds to chaos
Ongoing Metro construction by MahaMetro has made matters worse, especially between Bhakti-Shakti Chowk and Chinchwad. Deep potholes and narrow lanes have made this stretch dangerous. In response, PCMC has written to MahaMetro, requesting urgent repairs and deployment of traffic wardens. Hemant Sonawane, senior official, Pune Metro, said, “The roads are under PCMC. Due to the monsoon, repair work was stalled. Since this stretch is extremely busy, repairs can only be done at night.”
Reality check
While PCMC claims it has identified and repaired 1464 of the 1875 potholes using various materials — cold mix, GSB, cement concrete, khadi, and paver blocks — residents say the roads are as bad as ever. PCMC further claims only 491 potholes remain, but locals insist the number is much higher and growing. Complaints logged on the app are often ignored, and freshly patched potholes frequently reappear.
Tushar Shinde, Smart City Advisory Committee member, said, “PCMC needs to align with Smart City goals. It’s high time digital systems translated into swift, accountable ground action. Infrastructure must be built to be resilient, not just given a tech tag. PCMC must focus on pre-monsoon preparedness with stricter drain-clearing action plans.
It should adopt sensor-based monitoring (IoT) for potholes, road wear, and drainage status. Strict penalties must be imposed on defaulting contractors, and those found guilty should be blacklisted. A real-time dashboard should be published, showing pothole complaint statuses, repair deadlines, and contractor names.”
Commuters speak
Dr Anil Roy, former PCMC medical officer
“From Nigdi to Chinchwad station, the potholes are relentless — some are small, others are craters, but they’re everywhere. In just one kilometre from Nigdi to Bajaj Auto, there are 76 potholes. This is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Kapil Devdhar, a daily commuter
“I ride from Nigdi to Deccan every day. It’s terrifying, especially during the rains. PCMC claims awards but fails to provide basic road safety. We pay taxes in advance, but can’t get decent roads.”
Jui Shinde, a commuter
“The potholes aren’t just on highways — they’re everywhere. Even internal roads and colonies are riddled. The app they launched is a joke. You file complaints and never hear back. Mishaps are happening regularly, and stress levels are through the roof.”
Surendra Pawar, senior citizen
“We’ve struggled for years for clean water, now for safe roads. The PCMC launches tech platforms but doesn’t fix ground-level systems. We lose precious time in traffic. It’s mentally exhausting.”
