Monsoon still weeks away from peaking, residents of Lohgaon in Pune are already facing the brunt of civic failure. Bharat Mata Road, a key connector that links Dhanori Road to several residential societies near Ajeenkya DY Patil University, has all but disappeared under slush, waterlogging, and deep potholes.
What should have been a lifeline for hundreds of families is now a sinking corridor of mud and hazard.The stretch, meant to ease congestion from Porwal Road, has remained partially constructed for years. Without a proper tarmac layer, drainage system, or lighting, the road has been deteriorating with every downpour. The recent pre-monsoon showers have transformed the unpaved route into a muddy trap, paralysing mobility and posing serious risks to schoolchildren, pedestrians, and two-wheeler commuters.
“It’s no longer a road — it’s a danger zone,” said a resident of Goodwill Zest society, which sits at the far end of this battered stretch. “Every rainstorm makes it worse. Our children can’t get to school safely, autos refuse to enter, and online deliveries are nearly impossible.”For many, it’s not just the inconvenience that stings, but the feeling of civic abandonment. Despite multiple complaints lodged with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and appeals to elected representatives, no substantial action has been taken. Residents allege that promises to complete the road have remained on paper while the ground reality worsens with every passing year.
Kohinoor Viva City, another society affected by the crumbling road, reports similar challenges. “Cab drivers cancel trips, school buses won’t enter, and even emergency vehicles hesitate,” said one resident. “It feels like we’ve been left to fend for ourselves.”Urban experts say the problem goes beyond Lohgaon. As Pune’s population expands into peripheral zones, municipal bodies have struggled to keep up with basic infrastructure demands. While construction activity in Lohgaon has seen a boom — with high-rise apartments, educational institutions and commercial projects multiplying — civic amenities like roads, sewage, and transport access have lagged far behind.
Bharat Mata Road, originally planned to provide parallel access to the congested Porwal Road, now symbolises a wider failure in synchronising urban growth with sustainable infrastructure. The lack of stormwater management has only amplified the monsoon-related risks, while the absence of a clear project timeline from PMC has deepened residents’ frustration.Activists and citizens’ groups have begun raising alarms about the climate vulnerability of such neglected zones. “What is happening in Lohgaon is a microcosm of what happens when cities grow without resilience planning,” said an urban planner from a local think tank. “Unpaved roads and poor drainage don’t just cause inconvenience — they threaten livelihoods, health, and access to basic services.”
With June rains around the corner, residents are urging authorities to act immediately before the road sinks further — literally and metaphorically. For now, they continue to wade through water and wait for relief that never seems to arrive.
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