Pune: A stormwater drainage chamber near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Garden on Pune’s prominent Jangli Maharaj Road has collapsed, creating the risk of a large pothole.
The chamber, installed a few years ago, has raised questions about the quality of construction, especially since the road is known for being pothole-free. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials have confirmed that an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the collapse.
The issue came to light after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activist Prashant Kanojia filed a complaint. PMC officials inspected the site and discovered a large cavity forming around the chamber. Timely detection allowed for immediate repairs to be initiated.
“The collapsed chamber and surrounding areas have been carefully examined to ensure the repair work is flawless. Iron barricades will remain for the next five to six days, after which traffic will resume,” said Road Department Head Aniruddha Pawaskar.
The chamber, reportedly built five years ago, has raised suspicions about construction practices. “An inquiry will be conducted to find out how this chamber deteriorated in such a short period. Accountability will be fixed on the engineers responsible,” Pawaskar assured.
Waterlogging and Drainage Issues
In recent years, waterlogging has become a growing issue on Jangli Maharaj Road during the monsoon season. To tackle this, the PMC had undertaken projects to expand the stormwater drainage system and construct new chambers, including the one near Sambhaji Garden.
However, discrepancies have emerged regarding the exact timeline of the chamber’s construction, as some officials claim it was built five years ago, while others suggest it was completed just two years ago. This contradiction has added to the scrutiny of the project.
Jangli Maharaj Road stands out for its quality construction, having remained pothole-free for over three decades due to high standards maintained during its initial construction. Residents now urge the PMC to uphold similar standards across all city roads.
