Pune: The civic administration has set Oct 31 as the deadline for completing major road-digging works on 135km of road stretches identified for the Pune Grand Cycling Tour scheduled in Jan 2027.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also decided that digging at junctions on major roads would be permitted only on weekends and with prior approval from traffic police to minimise disruption during weekdays.PMC officials said the administration has warned utility agencies and departments that no fresh permissions for road digging would be granted on roads earmarked for the cycling event after Oct ends, except in emergencies.Of the 135km network identified for the tour, 84km of roads will be developed afresh, while 52km of stretches that were improved earlier will undergo maintenance. The exact routes for the event are expected to be announced soon.“The administration held a joint meeting on Tuesday of traffic police, MNGL, MSEDCL and the companies involved in CCTV installation and laying of other utilities that require road digging. The meeting was held to clear the doubts and discuss the road digging plans to complete major works within the deadline,” PMC road department chief Rajesh Bankar said.“The administration clarified to the companies that no fresh permissions will be granted for road digging on the roads identified for the Grand Cycling Tour event after Oct-end,” he said.Another road department official said instructions had been issued to the PMC’s water supply, drainage and electrical departments, besides agencies such as MNGL and MSEDCL, to complete all planned work as early as possible.Road users have demanded that the administration undertake repairs similar to those carried out ahead of last year’s cycling event. They pointed out that drainage and stormwater chambers repaired then have again deteriorated at several locations, while many stretches have developed potholes and uneven surfaces.Officials said major roads, including FC Road, JM Road, Karve Road, parts of Paud Road and Tilak Road, are slated for repairs and resurfacing before the Jan 2027 cycling event.
