Pune: Just weeks into the monsoon, several roads under the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) have developed large potholes, making daily commuting a nightmare for thousands of office-goers, students and motorists.Residents and activists claimed that the damage, which surfaced soon after the first spell of heavy rain in early July, has exposed the poor quality of road works carried out in previous years.Commuters said roads across the cantonment, particularly the busy Mula Road and stretches in the bazaar area, have become difficult to navigate due to deep potholes, uneven surfaces and waterlogging. They alleged that the cantonment board has been relying on temporary patchwork every monsoon instead of undertaking durable resurfacing.“The roads begin to crumble as soon as the first heavy showers arrive. This has become an annual ritual. Taxpayers deserve roads that last for years, not just a few weeks,” said local civic activist Prakash Shinde.Residents said the deteriorating road conditions have increased travel time and heightened the risk of accidents, especially for two-wheeler riders.“It is impossible to avoid the potholes because they are spread across the road. Every day we fear skidding or damaging our vehicles. We pay road tax, but what we get is a dangerous commute,” said Anita Kulkarni, a software professional who travels through the cantonment daily.Another commuter, Rohit Patil, expressed frustration over the recurring problem.“Every year, the authorities simply fill the potholes with loose material, and the roads break up again after a few showers. This is nothing but a waste of public money. The board should invest in quality road construction instead of cosmetic repairs,” Patil said.Residents and commuters also pointed to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, a key arterial route connecting Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, which witnesses heavy movement of industrial vehicles every day.Activists argued that the existing road design and construction are inadequate to withstand such traffic.“The volume of heavy vehicles on this stretch is enormous because it serves as a crucial link between Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Roads carrying such traffic require stronger engineering standards and durable materials. Annual patchwork is simply not the answer,” said activist Bablu Polkam.KCB engineering officials, however, attributed much of the damage to utility works carried out by various agencies. They said excavation for Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) pipelines and water pipeline repairs undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), particularly along Mula Road, had weakened several stretches.“The pipeline leakage repair work has now been completed, and the excavated portions will be restored shortly. We have already begun repair work at several locations, including roads in the bazaar area,” a senior engineering department official told TOI.Residents, however, said the explanations offered by the authorities do little to address the recurring problem.“With more rainfall expected in the coming weeks, we fear the condition of the roads will deteriorate further unless permanent repairs are carried out,” said Shabaz, another activist from the cantonment.
