₹145.75 crore tender floated to upgrade Pune roads for the Pune Grand Challenge Tour cycling event.
Citizens’ group and former corporators question high costs and tender terms.
PMC defends the plan, citing tight deadlines and need for world-class standards.
Pune, 17 September 2025: Pune is set to host the Pune Grand Challenge Tour, an international cycling competition inspired by the famous Tour de France. The event, organised by the Pune district administration and the Cycling Federation of India, will cover a total distance of 684 km, of which nearly 75 km will pass through key parts of Pune city.
To prepare for the race, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s road department has invited tenders worth ₹145.75 crore to upgrade and resurface the city roads on the cycling route. The project has been divided into four packages, with several contractors already submitting bids. The civic body has set a tight deadline, aiming to complete the work by the end of November to ensure the roads meet international standards.
However, former corporators and members of the citizens’ group Aapla Parisar have objected to the tender conditions and alleged that the per-kilometre cost is unusually high compared to routine road repairs. They have urged the municipal commissioner to review the estimates, pointing out that PMC’s annual budget for regular road maintenance is just ₹40 crore.
Defending the move, PMC road department head Aniruddha Pawaskar said the project demands world-class quality since “international cyclists will participate, and there can be no compromise on standards.” He added that the larger, consolidated tenders were necessary to ensure proper control and timely completion, and dismissed claims of inflated costs.
With the clock ticking, PMC officials maintain that only financially strong and experienced contractors will be entrusted with the work to deliver smooth, high-grade roads in time for Pune’s biggest-ever cycling spectacle.
