PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) will carry out repairs along stretches where Metro work is under way across the city.
A PMC official on Tuesday said MahaMetro has been told not to dig up roads without permission. “Our teams are conducting inspections. Repair and filling of potholes has already begun at some spots,” the official said.
Hemant Sonawane, general manager (public relations) at MahaMetro, said steps are being taken along with the PMC out repair roads at all stretches.
“The agencies working on the field have been told to carry out repairs on priority. We are in communication with the municipal corporation’s road department and are extending necessary assistance to restore roads,” said Sonawane. At junctions or stretches with huge traffic flow, MahaMetro is installing prefabricated structures to avoid road closures, he said.
Road users and elected representatives have sought repairs at regular intervals. A meeting of MahaMetro and municipal corporation officials was also convened recently.
Separate teams will now work on stretches along Paud Road, Karve Road, Raj Bahadur Mill Road and others, according to MahaMetro.
Murad Shaikh, an autorickshaw driver who operates in the Pune Station area, said stretches of the road from Sangam Bridge to Bund Garden are in need of repair. “The road is bound to deteriorate because of the Metro work. Motorists are navigating around potholes, wet roads, dust, diversions and uneven patches,” said Shaikh.
Motorists who use Paud Road and Karve Road raised similar issues. Dipali Shetti, a private bank employee, said there are potholes and rough patches along the stretches where the Metro work is going on. “Roads should be cleaned regularly. Also, lighting needs must be improved for the safety of road users at night,” said Shetti.
According to activist Sandeep Khardekar, regular meetings and visits are held with MahaMetro and PMC officials to minimise commuters’ problems. “We have also told the administration to ensure that other facilities such as footpaths, walkways and crossings along the roads remain intact during the Metro work,” said Khardekar.
