The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently conducted a ‘walking survey’ aimed at evaluating the road conditions in the city, deploying 41 junior engineers from the Road Department. Despite the municipality’s claims of an in-depth assessment to address citizens’ commuting issues, some residents are skeptical, arguing that the survey lacks transparency and authenticity.
Sahebrao Dandge, Superintendent Engineer of the PMC Road Department, explained, “The walking survey aimed to identify the problems citizens face while commuting on roads, particularly by foot. This micro-level inspection is crucial for understanding issues that may go unnoticed when using vehicles. Our engineers have been conducting this survey for the past 1 to 1.5 months, visiting various areas during peak hours to document the challenges faced by citizens.”
According to Dandge, the walking survey covered 356 out of 378 roads with a width of 12 meters in Pune. The data revealed 627 faulty speed breakers and 228 raised pedestrian crossings. Roads such as Sinhagad Road, Solapur Road, Tilak Road, and others were included in the assessment.
Despite the detailed information provided by the PMC, citizens remain skeptical about the transparency and authenticity of the survey. Vivek Welankar, President of Sajag Nagarik Manch, emphasized the need for the PMC to publish the survey report on its website. Welankar stated, “Citizens do not trust surveys conducted by the PMC. Transparency can be ensured by making the entire survey report public, including details about the standard and non-standard speed breakers.”
Several citizens expressed doubts about the effectiveness of PMC’s initiatives, citing the lack of visible improvement in road conditions. Questions were raised about the absence of the 41 engineers on the roads during the walking survey. Additionally, concerns were raised about the Non Motorized Transport (NMT) Committee, formed in 2018, which has not convened a single meeting since its inception.
Critics argue that the walking survey may be nothing more than a publicity stunt and emphasize the need for tangible improvements in road infrastructure, given that citizens consistently contribute to tax revenue.
