Pune, 17 July 2025: To address the recurring issue of damaged roads due to repeated digging, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to integrate drainage works with road construction. This move aims to eliminate the lack of coordination between the Road and Drainage Departments, which has been causing inconvenience to citizens and wasting public funds.
Currently, road construction and drainage pipeline installations are handled by separate departments in the PMC. As a result, newly built roads are often dug up again to lay drainage lines, especially during monsoon-related works. This repeated excavation damages road surfaces and leads to potholes, affecting daily commuters and increasing repair costs.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has directed the Road Department to take full responsibility for drainage works during road construction. By bringing both tasks under one department, the civic body hopes to ensure better planning, smoother execution, and long-term durability of roads.
This new approach will first be implemented in the 32 villages recently merged into the municipal limits. The goal is to complete all drainage-related work, such as laying storm-water and sewage pipelines, alongside roadwork, thus preventing the need for future digging and improving water drainage.
Each year, the city sees a fresh round of road surfacing and drainage upgrades, particularly before and during the monsoon. However, due to poor coordination, new roads are often compromised by subsequent drainage work. The revised system is expected to save both time and money, while improving road quality across the city.