The Times of India              03.08.2013

Potholes to get more hot-mix treatment

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to increase the amount of hot-mix to repair potholes, once the rain halts.

The civic officials said the administration has carried out repair work even during the rainy days at Senapati Bapat Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Pashan, University of Pune, Bavdhan, Paud Road, Karve Road, Fergusson College Road, Ghole Road, Balgandharv Chowk, Simala office, S G Barve Chowk, Ghavane and Chandni Chowk, Nal stop, Shivnerinagar, areas in Kondhwa Budruk, Kothrud and Deccan.

"The repair works began few weeks back. We have used various materials including paving blocks, brick, sand and cold-mix to repair the potholes," said Mahesh Pathak on Friday.

On complaints about the poor quality of road repairs, Pathak said that the material used did not prove very effective against the rain and in some areas the repairs lasted for short time.

"Due to continuous rainfall, potholes have come up again in some areas. Since there is a break in the rain now, we will use hot-mix more as it will give a quick and long term solution for potholes," he said.

Citizens across the city have complained about the poor condition of the roads after the monsoon set in. The potholes have not only slowed down traffic, but also made the roads more accident-prone. Many motorists were injured after their vehicles skidded and fell because of a pothole. So far the civic officials have been unable to effectively employ any technique to fill them.

The leaders of political parties have demanded a change in the terms and conditions while allotting road contracts. They also demanded that the contractors should take responsibility of the road for seven years after its laid. The leaders have also vouched for an external agency rather than officials to check the quality of road works and blacklist contractors.

Pathak said that the administration will consider these demands at the appropriate time.