Pune, August 19, 2023: The Bombay High Court has taken a firm stance on the persisting issue of bad roads in Pune by instructing the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the State Government’s Department of Urban Development to submit an affidavit within three weeks. This directive comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlights the deteriorating condition of roads in the city.
The High Court’s request for an affidavit is aimed at gaining insight into the concrete steps that have been taken by the PMC and the State Government to address the problem. Furthermore, the court emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the civic body adheres to the court’s instructions and directions in this regard.
The petitioner, activist Qaneez Sukhrani, asserts that the Pune Municipal Corporation has not fulfilled its obligatory and statutory responsibilities as outlined in the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act of 1949. Additionally, the PMC has allegedly neglected to implement adequate measures to comply with the court’s directives related to road maintenance and improvement.
One of the key concerns raised in the PIL is the prevalence of potholes in various areas of Pune. The petitioner points out that a total of 114 areas within the PMC’s jurisdiction were identified as pothole-prone zones in 2022. Similarly, 113 areas were reported to be afflicted by potholes in 2023. This data suggests that despite the passage of time, the PMC has not effectively reduced the number of pothole-prone areas in the city. This failure calls into question the civic body’s commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of road infrastructure.
The PIL also references previous attempts and recommendations made to address the road-related issues. The PMC established an advisory committee for technical guidance back in 2013, and a comprehensive report on road development and maintenance was submitted in 2016. Furthermore, court directions were issued in 2018 to address the matter. Despite these initiatives, the PIL argues that the PMC has not taken substantial action to resolve the ongoing road problems.
