Bavdhan residents raise complaints about pathetic road conditions
Akash Dhanurkar
Bavdhan residents have been in great trouble for the last few years. The road stretch between Matoshree hostel and Gera Isle has been over looked by the civic officials and citizen representatives, so far.
The one kilometer stretch is riddled with potholes, while few patches are covered with sand and gravels on temporary basis; thus, inviting the passing vehicles to skid.
One of the residents of the area, Nishi Kaveri reached out to Pune Pulse, she said, “Almost 40 complaints have been registered about the pathetic condition of the route; harassing the taxpayers. Multiple times, even the area corporator has visited the site, yet there was no rectification. Why is civic authority silent and inactive regarding just one kilometer stretch ? “
Girish Palsole from Gera Isle society, while talking to Pune Pulse said, “The PMC guys come and cover the pothole with gravel, appearing as if they have no permanent solution. Sometimes, we wonder if we have made a mistake by staying in the area. I ask my friends not to travel after it gets dark as the one kilometer stretch is dangerous and prone to accidents.”
Upon reaching out to the area Corporator Dilip Vedepatil, Pune Pulse raised a question on why is the development of the road stalled even after repeated complaints from the citizen to which the area corporator replied, “We have been taking consistent follow ups on the concerned road development since past few months, but due to COVID everything came to halt. The concerned road also has a problem of land acquisition, due to which we are unable to carry out any development work; and hence, we are talking to concerned land owners who have agreed to settle the dispute. Within two days, I have held a meeting with the area officials, in order to allocate final budget and issue tender in the month of December.”
Upon questioning him whether why there was indefinite time frame to the work that has received almost forty complaints and constant negative feedbacks from the citizens, he said, “Due to Covid19 pandemic, the funds were uncertain and hence we weren’t able to allocate funds for the work.”
When Pune Pulse tried to raise the issue with V G Kulkarni, in charge of the road department, Pune Municipal Corporation said, “This is a DP Road, but the land is not in the possession of PMC, which is still being used by citizens and hence road cannot be developed neither be repaired.”
