Pune: Incessant rain over the last few days has led to huge potholes appearing on the roads in the prime areas of the city that come under the jurisdiction of the Pune Cantonment Board . Roads near the Race Course, opposite the Empress Botanical Garden and at the traffic signal opposite the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) office, among others, were riddled with potholes filled with rainwater. The potholes were deep and wide, with debris scattered all around.
The current condition of the thoroughfare made the surface slippery and dangerous, especially for two-wheelers, and could lead to fatal accidents. Daily commuters said the condition of the said roads was as bad last monsoon. Every year, the stretch was filled with craters and PCB essentially ignored the situation, relying only on shoddy patchwork, they added.
Kapil Dubey, who commutes daily via the Solapur highway, said, “The situation is the same year after year. The traffic signal right outside the PCB main office is replete with potholes. How can PCB repair roads so poorly and risk so many lives? Two-wheeler riders are most at risk.
” Tushar Khaire, who drops his child to school near the Empress Botanical Garden, said, “The entire patch outside the garden and the road along the Race Course grounds are filled with potholes. One spell of rain, and the stretch is damaged every year. Authorities are playing a blame game, instead of repairing the roads.
” PCB chief executive officer Subrat Pal did not respond to calls or .