Pune, 6th August 2025: With the Ganesh festival just around the corner, preparations across the city are in full swing as mandals begin erecting decorative setups and pandals. However, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) seems to be dragging its feet when it comes to fixing the city’s deteriorating roads, leaving Punekars worried about whether the upcoming festival will be marked by celebration or struggle.
The 10-day Ganesh festival starts on August 27 and draws thousands of devotees from across the region. Key roads in central Pune and suburban areas become heavily crowded during this period, with many routes closed to traffic, increasing footfall on city streets.
Safe and walkable roads are crucial during this time, especially for women, the elderly, and children. But current conditions suggest that uneven surfaces, potholes, and broken footpaths may turn the festive atmosphere into a literal obstacle course.
At a recent meeting held in the wake of the festival preparations, Ganesh mandal representatives strongly urged the PMC to complete road repairs on priority. They highlighted how damaged roads make walking difficult and even dangerous, especially in congested areas where foot traffic is high.
Despite the urgency, PMC has not yet begun comprehensive repairs. In some places where work has started, it's being carried out on already good roads, such as a 50-foot stretch in front of Tilak Wada on Kelkar Road, leaving residents questioning the rationale behind such decisions.
Moreover, the patchwork done in these areas is reportedly of poor quality, with loose gravel causing discomfort to two-wheeler riders and increasing the chances of potholes reappearing soon.
Another persistent issue is water splashing onto pedestrians due to faulty footpaths. The paving blocks on several sidewalks have loosened because the underlying gravel has eroded. During rains, water gets trapped beneath these blocks and splashes up when stepped on, soiling people’s clothes, a problem locals say they face every monsoon season.
This has led many to question the effectiveness of the PMC’s annual tenders worth lakhs of rupees for road and footpath maintenance. Despite the allocated budgets, timely and quality work remains absent in many areas.
Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of PMC’s road department, said the condition of eight main roads in central Pune is fairly good. However, instructions have been given to repair chamber covers, fill potholes, and resurface smaller lanes in the peth areas. He added that these works will be completed in the next 15 days, ensuring better facilities for citizens during the festival.
The administration has directed inspections and urgent repairs on roads like Kelkar, Kumthekar, Laxmi, Shivaji, Bajirao, Nehru, Tilak, and Shastri. The orders also include fixing manhole covers, carrying out patchwork, and pruning overhanging branches of dangerous trees.
Yet, with the festival barely 20 days away and little visible progress on the ground, Punekars are left wondering whether the celebrations will be marred by civic negligence once again.