Pune Municipal Corporation will impose a penalty of at least four times the existing road-cutting fee on agencies that excavate roads along the Pune Grand Tour route after November 20, as the civic administration moves to complete utility and public-infrastructure work before the international cycling event.
The decision was reviewed at a joint meeting chaired by PMC Commissioner Naval Kishor Ram and Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi on November 12. Officials assessed infrastructure and beautification work across four packages on the cycling competition route and directed agencies with approved excavation work to complete it by the November 20 deadline.
The agencies named in the review include Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Dinesh Engineering and Allied Digital. They have been asked to submit written details of the work they will complete, the number of workers they will deploy and the teams that will be assigned to the sites.
The PMC has also decided not to issue permission for new road excavation after October 31. Any agency carrying out excavation after the November 20 deadline will face a penalty of at least four times the existing fee under the proposed policy. The civic administration is also considering using its appointed contractors to repair roads and footpaths if utility agencies fail to restore them on time or to the required standard.
The instructions cover more than road resurfacing. Contractors have been ordered to deploy additional labour and work teams to accelerate asphalt laying, footpath construction, kerbstone installation and concrete repairs. The administration has set a target of taking progress in most work packages beyond 36 per cent by the next review meeting. For the package at the final stage, a minimum progress level of 30 per cent has been prescribed.
The PMC has clarified that asphalt work alone will not be treated as completion of a road project. Footpaths, kerbstones, road markings and other associated works must also be completed. Contractors that fail to meet the prescribed targets will receive show-cause notices and face punitive action under the terms of their tenders. The administration has also warned that contracts could be cancelled if progress remains unsatisfactory at the next review.
Footpaths along the cycling route are also expected to be made continuous and safer for pedestrians. The PMC has directed regional office officials, deputy commissioners and the encroachment department to coordinate the removal of unauthorised encroachments, hawkers and other obstructions from pedestrian paths.
The civic administration is planning beautification and placemaking work along the route, including murals, sculptures, green strips, seating areas and improvements to public spaces. Roads, junctions, medians and walls are also proposed for beautification before the competition. Private developers and sponsors may participate by undertaking beautification of selected roads, junctions and public spaces at their own cost.
The next review meeting will assess progress against the targets set for the four infrastructure packages and determine whether further action is required against agencies and contractors that have not completed their assigned work.
