Pune: Residents Demand Action As PMC Contractor Digs Up Same Road Five Times At NIBM Annexe, Leaving New Stretch In Ruins

Pune, July 24, 2026: Residents of NIBM Annexe in Mohammadwadi have alleged that repeated and unplanned excavation by a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water department contractor has left a newly constructed road around SM Ghule Circle in a severely damaged condition, triggering widespread anger over what they describe as poor planning and a complete lack of accountability.

A formal complaint has now been submitted to the PMC Commissioner by resident Ashok Mehendale, demanding a departmental inquiry, financial penalties against the contractor and restoration of the road to its original condition.

According to residents, the same stretch has been dug up nearly five times over the past several months for water pipeline-related works. Every time the road was restored, fresh excavation followed shortly afterwards, leaving behind uneven patches, potholes and loose debris.

The affected stretch serves as one of the key internal roads connecting residential societies in NIBM Annexe with Mohammadwadi and witnesses heavy daily movement of school buses, office commuters, delivery vehicles and emergency services.

Residents said the repeated digging has made commuting hazardous, particularly during the monsoon when damaged portions become waterlogged and difficult to navigate.

In his representation to the civic administration, Mehendale questioned why the contractor continued excavating the same road despite repeated restoration works and sought accountability from both the contractor and PMC officials supervising the project. He demanded that a substantial financial penalty be imposed for repeated road cutting and poor-quality restoration, while insisting that the entire stretch be rebuilt with proper quality checks and monitored under a defect liability period.

The residents have also criticised the apparent lack of coordination between civic departments, saying newly laid roads should not be repeatedly excavated for utility works.

Hussain Shaikh, a resident, said, “The contractor appears to have no proper execution plan. Residents have watched the same road being dug up repeatedly. Every restoration is temporary and within days another trench is opened. Ultimately, taxpayers are left with a damaged road.”

Anzar Rade said the condition of the road has become dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike. “The uneven surface, loose gravel and potholes have increased the risk of accidents, especially for two-wheeler riders. During rains, it becomes even more hazardous.”

Sanjay Ahir alleged that public money was being wasted due to repeated excavation. “If proper planning had been done initially, there would have been no need to dig up the same stretch again and again. Citizens deserve better utilisation of public funds.”

Jaymala Dhankikar said the repeated digging reflected poor project management. “Infrastructure development should improve citizens’ lives, not create continuous inconvenience. There has to be accountability for repeated damage to newly constructed roads.”

Expressing concern over the deteriorating condition of civic infrastructure, Raj Singh said residents had repeatedly raised the issue but had seen little improvement. “The authorities must ensure that contractors are held responsible for substandard restoration work. Otherwise this cycle of digging and patchwork will continue indefinitely.”

Mehendale said residents were not opposed to infrastructure projects but expected proper planning before roads were excavated. “Development works are necessary, but repeatedly damaging the same newly built road is unacceptable. Citizens expect durable infrastructure, not endless repairs at public expense.”

The residents have urged the PMC to conduct an immediate inquiry into the repeated excavations, identify responsibility among the contractor and supervising officials, impose stringent penalties for poor execution and ensure complete restoration of the damaged road.

They also demanded that the civic body establish better coordination between departments so that once a road is resurfaced, it is not dug up again for separate utility works.

Residents said they now expect the PMC administration to intervene promptly and set an example by enforcing accountability, warning that failure to act would only encourage further waste of public funds and continued inconvenience to thousands of commuters using the NIBM Annexe–Mohammadwadi road network.