Pune: Drainage and stormwater chamber lids on major city roads, which were hastily repaired ahead of the cycling event in Jan, are already crumbling, exposing shoddy work undertaken by the civic authorities.Residents said cement around some of the chamber lids has loosened and come off, demanding immediate repairs to restrict further damage.The cycling event took place in the last week of Jan. Prior to the event, the civic body repaired numerous chamber lids along 75km event route on major road stretches. These lids were levelled with the road surface to ensure smoother rides for the cyclists. Daily commuter Pramod Pawar, who travels by JM Road, said, “The cement around some chamber lids has already come off. With constant heavy traffic on the road, the condition could worsen quickly. Therefore, the civic administration must undertake immediate repairs for public safety.”Key roads like JM Road, FC Road, Tilak Road, Bajirao Road, Shivaji Road, Karve Road, Sus Road and University Road were repaired ahead of the cycling event, including pothole patching, chamber levelling and removal of speed breakers. Vijay Yadav, a resident of Karve Road, said commuters enjoyed smooth rides for a brief period. “Road conditions are deteriorating again, with potholes reappearing. There is an urgent need to pay more attention towards road maintenance,” Yadav said.Pune Municipal Corporation officials said most chamber lids repaired before the cycling event were still in good condition, though heavy traffic might have damaged a few. “The chamber lids that are in bad shape will be repaired. The contractors concerned will be told to take up corrective measures immediately. We will also look for reasons behind the damage to the chamber lids. If repairs are not possible, the administration will ask the contractors concerned to replace the lids,” a civic official said.PMC’s road department said the chamber lid repair initiative was still ongoing and continued on road stretches beyond the original 75km network identified for the event. “We have taken up the levelling work on many road stretches,” an official said.
