Pune: Several residents living near the NIBM Annexe Road area in Kondhwa are struggling daily to commute due to multiple and incomplete road projects initiated by the civic body. Besides, the continuous movement of heavy vehicles due to construction work has turned the main road into an unending pothole, leaving commuters hassled. Residents said the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) only knows tax collection, and no one has paid any heed to their numerous complaints.
“We have become forgotten people. The PMC only collects tax from us. The condition of the road is abysmal.
There is an accident reported here each day as two-wheeler riders are unable to balance due to the potholes and muck,” Jaymala Dhankikar, resident of Ganga Kingston housing society, told TOI. An issue with the drainage line has resulted in dirty water filling the streets, affecting around 30-35 housing societies in the area. “A mall has come up in the area, and it has encroached upon the footpaths.
There is no place to walk. We have given so many complaints to different authorities, but there has been no help yet,” Dhankikar said. “There is no road on the stretch between Raheja Circle and SM Ghule Patil roundabout.
It has innumerable potholes, mud and slush due to the rains. It is very risky to commute on the stretch, especially after dark, as there are no streetlights in the patch. The authorities are not bothered about our plight,” Akash Singh, a resident of Raheja Vistas housing society, said.
Shikha D, resident of Imperial Towers housing society, questioned the civic body’s decision to begin construction of the road if they weren’t sure of the work being completed before monsoon. Tara Singh, president of Imperial Towers housing society and Anandvan Parisar Residents Forum, said they had detailed talks with PMC officials. “We have been pressurising the authorities to act fast.
Around two months ago, we held a protest at the ward office. We are hoping that all works are completed without further delays,” Singh said. Residents claimed construction, as well as encroachment, has reduced the actual carriageway, and only a major mishap will awaken the authorities.
“One side of the road has construction activities while the other has encroachments. There is no space for vehicular movement, let alone walking. My mother and wife used to take an evening walk regularly but have stopped now because of the chaos on the road and the risks involved,” said a resident of Gemini Park housing society.
The movement of heavy vehicles like trailers and earthmoving machines has further deteriorated the stretch. Civic officials, despite the plethora of problems faced by the people, said they were helpless. “There are three major road projects under way in the area — from Cloud 9 forest area to Raheja Circle, from Raheja Circle to Kad Chowk and from Raheja Circle to Krushnanagar.
All these are concrete roads with a different construction method. We have to construct it in patches and leave them for some time so that cracks do not appear. We cannot provide residents with an alternative road,” Gautam Gavand, a junior engineer-rank official with PMC’s road department, told TOI.
“The construction activity will be completed in the next six months. There won’t be any problems later,” Gavand said. Balasaheb Dhamale Patil, assistant commissioner of PMC Hadapsar division, said the administration will work on repairing the potholes.
“We will check the area and mend the potholes so that people don’t face issues,” he said..
