Pune: PMRDA has started to fill potholes on roads along the under-construction Metro route in Hinjewadi IT Park , following intense criticism on social media. Several employees of the IT sector and their associations shared videos of roads riddled with potholes on social media platforms. Later, the content was shared by some celebrities as well.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is developing the Metro route connecting Shivajinagar and the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi. A senior PMRDA official said contractors involved in the ongoing Metro works had been instructed to fill all potholes within a week. Several IT employees claimed the condition of roads inside the Hinjewadi IT Park had worsened due to Metro works.
This was leading to waterlogging and frequent accidents. The Hinjewadi IT Park has over 150 IT companies and over four lakh employees. Chief engineer of PMRDA Rinaj Pathan said around 50% of the potholes had been filled and concerned officials had been directed to fix the remaining on priority.
Pathan said even though the area was divided between the jurisdictions of Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the PMRDA, the responsibility to maintain roads along the Metro route was with the Metro concessionaire. If they failed to do so, PMRDA was expected to take over. Dyanendra Hulsure, president of Hinjewadi Employees and Residents Trust, said, “A large number of IT employees are on leave over the long.