Pune: Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road, which has been a hallmark of quality construction and is often referred to as a "pothole-free" road, is now under scrutiny following the appearance of a massive sinkhole.
The road, constructed over four decades ago, has been a symbol of durability. However, recent events have raised serious doubts about the quality of work undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Two years ago, PMC allocated ₹4.5 crore for the installation of a stormwater drainage system on JM Road. Despite this investment, the drainage system caved in, creating a significant sinkhole in the middle of the road near Hotel Shubham.
An inspection by PMC's road department revealed that the surrounding land had subsided by more than five feet. To ensure public safety, the affected stretch has been barricaded, and repair work has begun immediately.
The sinkhole was first reported by Prashant Kanojia, a state organizer of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena. Kanojia noticed cracks near the sinkhole and observed that it could collapse further, posing a threat to vehicles.
Realizing the potential danger, he alerted senior PMC officials, who dispatched a repair team to the site. Upon excavation, it was confirmed that the underlying stormwater drainage system had collapsed.
In 2022 and 2023, PMC undertook extensive flood management work on JM Road under the Urban Street project, which included constructing pavements and upgrading the drainage system.
Initially, smaller pipelines were installed, but these were replaced with larger ones last year to improve drainage capacity. Despite these efforts, the drainage system failed within two years, highlighting potential shortcomings in the quality of construction.
