Pune continues to grapple with perilous road conditions despite clear directives from the Bombay High Court, raising pressing questions about civic accountability, contractor compliance, and commuter safety. Months after judicial orders mandating road safety and quality benchmarks, commuters still face crumbling surfaces, dangerous potholes, and poorly executed repairs across the city.
A detailed legal battle had earlier compelled the civic administration to undertake strict measures, including adherence to recommendations from road safety committees and third-party audits by reputed institutions. The high court, in its February 2025 ruling, categorically stated that road maintenance is not merely an administrative responsibility but a constitutional obligation under the right to life. Yet, on-ground realities paint a starkly different picture. Investigations reveal that critical directives such as imposing penalties on errant contractors, blacklisting repeat offenders, and ensuring scientific supervision have largely been ignored. Instead, repairs are often superficial, collapsing within weeks, while trenching work by private operators continues unchecked. Experts highlight that the city’s tendering process, which prioritises awarding contracts to the lowest bidder, has entrenched a culture of poor workmanship and cost-cutting.
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The human cost of this neglect has been devastating. Recent accidents, including the tragic death of a two-wheeler rider who lost control on a broken stretch, underline the fatal risks posed by civic inefficiency. Road users report that stretches in prime areas remain riddled with gaps and uneven surfaces, with complaints frequently going unanswered for weeks. Urban experts stress that Pune’s predicament is not simply a matter of civic management but one of systemic disregard for sustainable and safe urban planning. Evidence from durable roads, such as the decades-old stretch of Jangli Maharaj Road, demonstrates that long-lasting construction is possible when proper standards are enforced. Yet, the failure to replicate such models citywide has locked Pune into a cycle of patchwork repairs and recurring hazards.
Civic officials had earlier pledged to adopt modern techniques, ensure transparency in audits, and implement the recommendations of expert committees. However, the lack of regular meetings by the road development monitoring body and the absence of accountability mechanisms have undermined these assurances. Experts argue that without restructuring procurement norms, prioritising quality over cost, and strictly penalising negligence, Pune will continue to face mounting road safety risks.For commuters, the stakes remain high. As the city positions itself as a hub for sustainable growth and eco-friendly urban mobility, its crumbling roads stand as a stark contradiction to that vision. Without urgent systemic reform, unsafe roads will continue to undermine not only mobility but also the promise of a safe and equitable urban future for Pune.
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Pune Roads Remain Unsafe despite High Court Orders And Civic Apathy
