Pune: PMC centralises road restoration work to improve quality after repeated complaints
Pune: PMC centralises road restoration work to improve quality after repeated complaints
Pune, April 28, 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to centralise road repair work to address growing complaints about pathetic road conditions caused by frequent digging across the city.
Under the new directive issued by Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, all roads dug up for utilities such as water, drainage, electricity and telecom will now be restored only by the civic body’s road department. No other department or contractor will be allowed to carry out restoration independently.
The move comes after several instances where roads repaired by different agencies deteriorated quickly, leading to potholes, uneven surfaces and traffic issues. The civic body regularly grants digging permissions to agencies such as Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited, telecom firms, and its own departments.
Centralising the process from granting excavation permissions to final restoration will improve coordination, ensure stricter quality checks and increase the lifespan of roads.
Citizens have pointed out that poor soil compaction, use of low-quality materials and inadequate curing after repairs are major reasons for rapid road damage. These weak patches often turn into potholes during the monsoon, worsening traffic and increasing accident risks.
The new policy also addresses funding issues. Departments seeking to dig roads must now deposit restoration costs in advance, and budget provisions for repairs will be mandatory before permissions are granted. The PMC has also set deadlines and quality standards for completing restoration work.
