Wadgaonsheri Residents Slam PMC Over Endless Roadwork, Traffic Chaos, and Lack of Coordination

Wadgaon Sheri residents have complained that the never-ending road work in their area has been causing a lot of traffic congestion and inconvenience to the commuters.

Some of these works have even led to newly-built concrete roads being dug up, which highlights the lack of coordination between Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) various departments when it comes to development efforts.

“Every time the road in D-Mart Lane, Kalyani Nagar, seems close to being fixed, it’s dug up again, leaving residents and commuters in a state of constant frustration. Over the past six months, repeated excavation has disrupted daily life, making matters worse with each passing day,” alleged Monica Sharma, a resident of Kalyaninagar. 

“The road condition has not only deteriorated but has also led to severe traffic jams that have become unbearable, especially during peak hours. There is no visible information or timeline provided by the authorities or contractors about the purpose of the digging, who is responsible, or when it will be completed. The lack of transparency and coordination raises serious concerns about accountability,” she told The Free Press Journal (FPJ). 

“Residents demand that the PMC take immediate action to address these issues. Proper planning, clear communication, and adherence to PMC’s guidelines are essential to restore order and alleviate the suffering of those affected by this ongoing chaos,” Sharma added. 

Dust and noise pollution due to work

Another resident, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The constant noise and dust from the road digging are a major concern. People cannot walk on footpaths as it’s broken, the road is dug up, and the traffic congestion is making it difficult to get around. We have no idea what is being done, who is responsible, or when it will end. The PMC needs to step in and ensure that these guidelines are followed to protect the well-being of the residents.” 

Interestingly, various departments, including the stormwater drains, water and solid waste management, are carrying out these activities but the officials say they are unaware of whether the work is being carried out by the head office or at the ward level. 

“I’m not aware of the road-digging incident in that area. There are a lot of activities going on; will surely check and coordinate with the PMC’s main department,” Sunil Kumar Konmare, PMC’s Executive Engineer, told the FPJ.

Speaking to the FPJ, Surendra Pathare, the son of newly-elected Vadgaon Sheri MLA Bapusaheb Pathare, said, “We have received this complaint from the residents and we have asked the civic authorities to identify whether these digging activities happening in the area are legal or illegal. If they’re illegal we will ask the authorities to take action.”