Pune, 21st August 2026: An 11-year-old boy, Viraj Patole, died in a road accident at Malhunge after the two-wheeler he was travelling on with his father reportedly slipped on a muddy and uneven stretch of road.
The accident has triggered widespread anger among residents, who have blamed poor road conditions and inadequate infrastructure for creating a serious safety risk.
Residents later held a candlelight march in Malhunge, demanding accountability and proper road repairs. The incident has also renewed criticism of Pune's persistent pothole problem, particularly during the monsoon.
The road near Godrej Green Vista and Godrej Green Cove has several problems. One side of the approximately 24-metre-wide road has remained closed because of a land acquisition dispute. As a result, traffic is moving in both directions on the remaining side.
Mud and silt flowing down from the surrounding hills have accumulated along the road. Sewage from a nearby labour camp is also reportedly flowing onto the road, making the surface slippery.
A pit had also been dug for a chamber, with stones placed around the work area. The work was reportedly being carried out by another government agency and not the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Following the accident, however, the engineers and contractor associated with the work were allegedly no longer present at the site, leaving the PMC to take up immediate repair and safety measures.
The PMC has started removing accumulated mud and silt and repairing the damaged section. Patching and resurfacing work is also underway at the location where the accident occurred.
However, officials have acknowledged that repeated patchwork may not provide a permanent solution. Heavy vehicles, including dumpers and cement mixer trucks, regularly use the route, while monsoon rain continues to damage repaired sections.
Residents have also pointed out that gravel from earlier patchwork has already begun coming loose, raising concerns about the durability of temporary repairs.
A major issue is the unresolved land acquisition dispute. A landowner has reportedly refused to hand over the required portion of land without compensation, resulting in one side of the road remaining closed.
The road from Balewadi Stadium to Malhunge village is largely developed. However, the approximately two-kilometre stretch beyond Malhunge village is narrower and has several potholes and encroachments.
The section between the residential societies and the Vijiti Circle is wider, but the closure of one side has forced traffic onto a single carriageway.
The PMC is now trying to open the remaining portion of the road, excluding the disputed land, to improve traffic movement and safety.
The lack of clarity over the ownership and execution of earlier infrastructure works has become another major concern.
The PMC reportedly does not have complete information about who carried out road works from Malhunge towards Nande and Chande, or how much was spent on them. Officials have also said that road-related documents have not been fully transferred by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to the PMC.
This has made it difficult to establish which agency was responsible for earlier construction, maintenance and utility work.
Residents and officials say there is a need for a clear record of which government agency carried out each project, how much public money was spent and who is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure after the areas were incorporated into the municipal limits.
Following the accident, the Aundh-Baner regional office also initiated action against those contributing to the poor conditions.
The PMC has imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on a property owner for allowing sewage from the labour camp to flow onto the road. The owner has been directed to arrange proper sewage disposal within two days.
The civic body has also issued notices to businesses operating from unauthorised sheet sheds in the area. Officials said the structures must be removed within 24 hours or further action will be taken.
The latest accident came nearly 20 days after Malhunge residents began protesting against potholes and poor road conditions.
Following the protests, the PMC's road department started pothole repairs. However, residents say the repeated patchwork has failed to address the underlying problem.
The accident has now intensified demands for a permanent solution rather than repeated temporary repairs.
The death of Viraj Patole has brought renewed attention to the condition of Malhunge's roads. For residents, the issue is no longer only about potholes but about who is responsible for ensuring that basic infrastructure is safe before another accident claims a life.