Pune: Residents, industrialists and workers in Chakan MIDC have raised fresh concerns over the deteriorating condition of internal and approach roads, alleging that pothole-riddled stretches and chronic traffic congestion are disrupting industrial activity, delaying production and posing a serious safety risk to commuters.They claimed that despite Chakan being India’s largest automotive manufacturing hub and contributing over Rs50,000 crore in annual GST, the area’s road infrastructure remains inadequate.The issue has exacerbated to the extent that on Aug 6, Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi chaired a high-level review meeting attended by officials from PMRDA, MIDC, MSRDC, NHAI, the public works department (PWD) and traffic police to address the deteriorating condition of roads in and around Chakan.He asked all agencies to make the roads pothole-free by Aug 25 and said he would personally inspect the stretches after the deadline. He warned that failure to remove encroachments within the stipulated period would invite action. “If accidents occur due to potholes after the deadline, the responsibility of the department concerned will be fixed and appropriate legal action will be taken as per the rules,” he said.Dudi asked all departments to undertake road repairs on a war footing and complete the work within the stipulated time frame through coordinated efforts. The meeting reviewed several accident-prone and congestion-hit road stretches, following which agencies were instructed to immediately fill potholes, repair damaged sections, strengthen road shoulders and implement necessary safety measures at the locations.Meanwhile, road users’ woes continued. “The condition of nearly 50% of the internal and approach routes is so poor that they are no longer motorable. While repair work is under way at a few locations, most stretches are riddled with potholes,” said Vijay Kakad, security head of a multinational company’s office in Chakan MIDC.He added that trucks carrying raw materials and finished goods are parked along the roadside, worsening congestion. Even a single vehicle’s breakdown results in traffic queues stretching several kilometres. “The poor road network has slowed vehicular movement and affected industrial operations, with production dropping by 15-20% according to estimates,” Kakad said.Residents said several stretches within the industrial belt lack streetlights, making rain-filled potholes difficult to spot and increasing the risk of accidents. “Several road fatalities have already been reported in Chakan and surrounding areas over the past few days, including crashes linked to potholes and damaged roads,” said a local resident, who also owns a factory in the MIDC, and chose to stay unnamed.Workers said worsening traffic has significantly increased travel time. “A commute that earlier took 20-25 minutes now takes nearly an hour,” said Sachin Kale, who works in one of the industrial units.The issue had triggered protests by residents and industrialists last year, following which then-deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had visited the area and directed authorities to improve the road network. While some key approach routes developed, locals alleged that the condition of roads has deteriorated again over the past few months.Kunal Kad, a member of the Traffic Free Chakan Movement, said several senior officials who had monitored overall infrastructure improvement works following Ajit Pawar’s intervention, including the traffic DCP, PMRDA commissioner and divisional commissioner, have since been transferred. “The pace of work has slowed considerably and road conditions have deteriorated again,” he said.Kad said members of their group are planning a large-scale protest on Aug 15 to highlight the issue. “The biggest problems are on roads under PMRDA and MIDC jurisdictions. While MIDC workers are seen filling potholes at some locations, there is hardly any visible work on roads maintained by PMRDA,” he alleged.Last month, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for the proposed 24-km Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur elevated corridor, which is expected to ease congestion after completion. However, residents said ongoing construction activity and neglected roads have further worsened commuting conditions.“The Dehu-Yelwadi road is in such poor condition that even four-wheelers struggle to use it. Hundreds of employees travelling from Talegaon and Dehu use this route daily. The stretch near Signature Company is full of potholes, and a similar situation exists between HP Chowk and Mhalunge police chowkey,” Kad said.Industrialists said the damaged road network has increased logistics costs, delayed movement of raw materials and finished goods, and affected production schedules, while residents alleged that repeated accidents caused by poor road conditions have not received adequate attention from the authorities.A coordination and review meeting involving local representatives, police officials and MIDC authorities was held on Aug 5 to discuss the issue.MIDC superintendent engineer Nilesh Modve said they have already undertaken road improvement works across the industrial estate. “Major roads are either being concretised or have already been completed. Compared to last year, there has been significant improvement. In Phase 4, a 4-km stretch has been upgraded into a six-lane concrete road. The heavily congested road in Phase 1 has been developed, the connecting road between Phases 1 and 3 has been concretised, and work is progressing in Phases 2 and 3,” he told TOI.Modve said several roads highlighted by industrialists are outside MIDC’s jurisdiction. “We have advised stakeholders to raise those issues with the authorities concerned. Roads outside MIDC limits are often attributed to MIDC even though they are maintained by other agencies,” he said.
