Pimpri-Chinchwad’s pothole problem is set to complicate the Ganesh immersion procession scheduled for September 25, with recent heavy rain worsening road conditions across the city despite the municipal administration’s claim that most reported potholes have been repaired.
According to figures cited by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 3,060 potholes were identified on roads across the city since June. The administration said 2,809 of them had been repaired, leaving 251 potholes pending. The report also refers to 252 potholes as remaining, indicating a one-pothole discrepancy in the municipal figures.
The civic body had claimed that the city would be made pothole-free before the Ganesh festival. However, roads along and near the immersion procession routes continue to have damaged stretches, according to the report. Heavy rain two days before the procession added to the deterioration and increased the risk of loose gravel and uneven surfaces.
Pimpri-Chinchwad has about 2,073 kilometres of roads, ranging from 12 feet to 80 feet in width. These include paved, unpaved, asphalt and concrete roads. The potholes have been reported across different parts of the network, placing pressure on both local streets and major corridors used by large numbers of commuters.
The Mumbai-Pune Highway stretch between Pimpri and Chinchwad station and the service road in Nigdi were identified as particularly damaged areas. Potholes have also been reported on the Bus Rapid Transit route. Loose aggregate dislodged from damaged surfaces has caused two-wheelers to skid, while motorists have had to manoeuvre around potholes, slowing traffic and adding to congestion.
The municipal administration said it had used several methods to repair the reported road defects. These included asphalt and cold mix for 992 potholes, bituminous bound macadam for 54, gravel for 1,289, paving blocks for 245 and concrete for 229. Together, these repairs account for 2,809 potholes, or 91.80 per cent of the total identified by the civic body.
The repair figures also show that the municipality is using different materials and methods across the road network rather than relying on one uniform treatment. The report does not provide details on the durability of each repair, the contractors responsible for the affected stretches or the locations of the remaining potholes.
The immediate concern is the movement of immersion processions and regular traffic on roads where damaged surfaces, loose material and rainwater may reduce manoeuvrability. The municipal administration’s stated position is that only a small number of potholes remain to be repaired, while conditions reported on major roads and the BRT corridor indicate that road quality continues to affect mobility in parts of the city.
The next operational milestone is the Ganesh immersion procession on September 25. The pending potholes and the condition of the identified procession routes will determine whether the civic body’s repair programme has addressed the most heavily used stretches before the event.
