The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), the concessionaire responsible for constructing Metro Line 3 from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, to address the poor condition of roads along the Metro corridor. The deteriorating state of the roads, particularly on the stretch from Hinjewadi-Maan to Wakad Chowk, has raised significant safety concerns for commuters, prompting the regional authority to take action.
In the notice issued on Thursday, PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase warned PITCMRL that failure to repair and resurface the roads within the given timeframe could result in a suspension of the work order. The issue has been a point of contention for months, with multiple complaints from daily commuters and discussions with senior government authorities failing to yield results. The PMRDA has emphasised that immediate deployment of resources is required to ensure the roads are maintained in a traffic-worthy condition. According to the notice, the current state of the roads poses a severe safety hazard, especially along the Metro line corridor. “The condition of the road along the Metro corridor is pathetic and poses a serious safety hazard to commuters,” the notice stated.
This comes as IT professionals, who regularly travel on this route, express growing frustration with the delayed improvements. One commuter, Priya Potdar, voiced her concerns, stating, “The contractors should be banned, and no work should be given for such poor quality. IT employees have been suffering for too long.” The stretch from Hinjewadi to Wakad is a critical part of the city’s infrastructure, as it caters to the growing population of IT professionals commuting to work daily. Despite the ongoing Metro construction work, the poor condition of the roads has compounded the challenges faced by residents, leading to widespread dissatisfaction. While the Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited has previously received several communications regarding this matter, the failure to address it has now escalated. The PMRDA’s firm stance reflects the growing pressure to prioritise commuter safety and infrastructure maintenance. The outcome of this notice will determine whether commuters can expect relief soon.
