Pune: Jangali Maharaj Road’s Pothole Raise Questions Over Municipal Corporation’s Repair Work

Pune:
Jangali Maharaj (JM) Road, once famous as Pune’s pothole-free road, is now in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Known for its exemplary construction quality over the past 44 years, the road has recently garnered negative attention after the appearance of a large pothole, casting serious doubts over the Municipal Corporation’s recent developmental work.

The pothole, caused by the collapse of rainwater drains constructed just two years ago at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore, has raised concerns over the quality of work undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation. An inspection by the Municipal Corporation’s Road Department revealed that the soil beneath the road had eroded by over five feet, leading to a dangerous cavity. The authorities have since closed the section of the road and commenced urgent repairs on the road.

The issue was first brought to light by Prashant Kanojia, the state organiser of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena. While travelling on the road, Kanojia discovered the massive pothole near Hotel Shubham on the road and noticed alarming cracks in the surrounding area. On closer examination, he realised the road was on the verge of further collapse, and an entire car could fall into it if not repaired immediately. Recognising the gravity of the situation, Kanojia immediately alerted senior officials of the Municipal Corporation, prompting swift action.

When the Road Department’s repair team reached the site and excavated the affected area, they found that the rainwater drainage system beneath the road had caved in. Barricades were swiftly erected to cordon off the area, and repair work began in earnest.

In 2022 and 2023, the Pune Municipal Corporation had undertaken extensive monsoon flood management projects on JM Road, costing Rs 4.5 crore. These projects included the construction of urban street-style footpaths on both sides of the road and the installation of rainwater channels. However, the original water channels were deemed too small to handle the flow, prompting the administration to replace them with larger drains last year. Despite this work, the collapse of the drainage system has put the quality of this repair work under scrutiny.