Pune Municipal Corporation plans 10-fold hike in deposit for digging city roads

Pune: In a bid to deter people from digging roads for constructing pandals, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed a ten-fold hike in the deposit collected from workers of mandals or political groups for the purpose. The proposal has been submitted to the PMC’s standing committee. At present, the civic body charges Rs 25 per pothole from the mandals and returns it after the workers fill up the potholes and restore the condition of roads to normal.The PMC wants to increase the deposit to Rs 250 per pothole. “The mandals have been digging roads to set up pandals for years now. Our efforts to control the potholes have not led to concrete results as the deposit amount is very less, which does not exert any financial pressure on these organizations. It does not prevent them from digging roads,” said a civic official. The city has around 1,600 registered mandals and the number is increasing every year. There are many mandals which are unregistered, said the official. As per the civic body, on an average 4,000-5,000 to potholes are repaired during festive season every year. Because of these potholes, several stretches in the city have been damaged as these asphalt road surfaces become loose which makes them accident-prone. The mandals workers in the city have agreed to the hike in the deposit amount but they hope the PMC’s move is well-intended and that it should not create hassles for the mandals. Shrikant Shete, head of Kasba Ganpati mandal, said the practice of using modern pandals should be promoted. “Digging of roads hampers its quality. Our mandal has been promoting new-age pandal set-ups for various festivals which do not require digging roads. Such set-ups use heavy metals a mechanical system,” he said. Ravindra Malvadkar, president of Saklipir Talim Ganesh Mandal, said the civic body can increase the deposit amount but it should ensure that the hike does not put financial burden on small mandals as they will not be able to afford it. The civic official said that every year, road repairs are carried out on Senapati Bapat Road, Ganeshkhind Road, in Pashan, roads near the University of Pune, Bavdhan, Paud, Karve, Fergusson College Road, Ghole Road, Balgandharva, Shimla office, S G Barve chowk, Ghavane and Chandni chowks, Nal stop, Shivnerinagar, and areas in Kondhwa Budruk, Kothrud and Deccan.