A damaged bridge in Pune city
Pune: PMC claims to have completed repairs on 21 bridges and flyovers within its jurisdiction around a year after its structural audit of these amenities. In its audit, the civic administration had found 98 bridges, flyovers and culverts in need of repair. Civic officials said out of these 98, the responsibility for five bridges falls on the respective contractors under the defect liability period, so they will have to conduct the repairs. Work on the remaining 93 is being coordinated by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Works have been completed on 10 out of 11 bridges in the first phase and 11 out of 17 bridges in the second phase. On these 21 bridges, tasks such as replacing bearings, replacing expansion joints and structural strengthening were carried out. For the third phase, Rs8 crore has been approved in the budget, through which 14-15 bridges are likely to be repaired.
These facilities have become accident-prone due to potholes, with the situation worsening during the rainy season, when traffic snarls add to the problem, according to citizens. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Dinkar Gojare, head of PMC’s projects department, said, “PMC will keep a regular watch on repairs and damage to the bridges. The administration should also ensure that these facilities remain pothole-free, according to commuters. Inspections and immediate repairs during the rainy season are a must, many said. PMC officials said the highest priority is being given to ‘Category A’ bridges, with repairs taking place in multiple phases. Many such facilities remain pothole-ridden, making their usage a hassle for commuters,” said Ketaki Paranjape, a resident of Sinhagad Road.
In the current phase, repairs were carried out on facilities that were severely damaged and needed urgent attention. The cost of works in the first phase is Rs10 crore, while for the second phase it is Rs17 crore. “PMC claims that the repairs were carried out, but the situation on the ground appears to be different. Download the TOI App.