Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has extended the deadline for completing all pre-monsoon roadwork to June 7.
This comes after widespread civic inaction and unfinished reinstatement of roads, raising concerns about traffic congestion, waterlogging, and commuter safety as rains begin to lash parts of Maharashtra.At a high-level review meeting on Monday, PMC Additional Commissioner Omprakash Diwate directed civic departments to wrap up all pending work without any further leniency. The earlier deadline of June 1, set to ensure monsoon preparedness, had been breached by several departments, including drainage, road maintenance, water supply, and power. Despite clear instructions to halt digging activity and restore road surfaces before the onset of the rains, city roads in areas such as Baner, Kothrud, Yerawada, and Hadapsar remain in a dug-up or patchy state.
Diwate pulled up errant agencies for delays, warning that contractors who fail to deliver quality reinstatement would not be paid. “The early arrival of monsoon has impacted timelines, but this cannot be used as an excuse any further. All agencies must now adhere to the revised June 7 deadline. Any further delay will invite strict penalties,” he said.The directive follows mounting public anger over persistent roadwork and reckless excavation that have turned key arterial roads into hazards, especially during rain. In several neighbourhoods, open trenches and loose gravel have triggered commuter risks and impeded emergency services. The lack of coordination between departments has also been cited as a recurring challenge in timely completion of civic works.
PMC officials confirmed that a fresh status report is being sought from every department by midweek, with on-ground checks being intensified. Diwate has instructed zonal engineers to personally monitor progress and take action against defaulting contractors under the civic body’s quality assurance framework.The road reinstatement issue is closely tied to broader concerns over Pune’s urban resilience and sustainable infrastructure planning. In recent years, the city has faced growing criticism for poor pre-monsoon preparation, reactive repairs, and carbon-intensive construction practices. Experts say a more integrated and climate-resilient approach to civic infrastructure is necessary if Pune is to meet its zero net carbon and smart city goals.
While the extension may help buy time for essential works to conclude, it also highlights gaps in planning and accountability. As Pune continues to expand rapidly, residents are increasingly demanding durable, environmentally sustainable infrastructure and stronger enforcement of civic deadlines.
The coming days will reveal whether the PMC’s final push before monsoon can salvage the situation or if the city will again find itself battling potholes, flooded roads, and commuter chaos—a scene all too familiar to its citizens.
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