Pune: Commuters using the Nigdi–Chinchwad stretch of the old Mumbai–Pune highway in Pimpri-Chinchwad have raised concerns over the poor condition of the road due to ongoing Metro work. Residents said the stretch is riddled with potholes and has become accident-prone, with frequent mishaps reported in the area.Members of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have also submitted a letter to Shravan Hardikar, commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and in charge of Maha Metro, demanding immediate repairs. The party has also warned of a ‘chakka jam’ protest on March 25 if the resurfacing work is not completed by then.The issue had also surfaced during the monsoon last year when the road condition had deteriorated significantly. Sachin Chikhale, MNS city president of Pimpri-Chinchwad, said the road has remained in poor condition for over two years and that contractors appointed for the Metro project have failed to carry out timely repairs. “This is an important stretch that not only serves as a key link on the highway but is also used by residents regularly,” he said.Sarang Dahiwal, a Nigdi resident and a regular commuter on the stretch, said the road has already become narrow due to the Metro work. Since heavy vehicles, including private buses and construction vehicles, also use the route, it becomes highly congested during evening hours.“The officials concerned had carried out repair work recently, but the quality was very poor, and the condition of the road remains the same. It is uneven and filled with potholes,” he said.Another resident, Arjun Pawar, said many commuters now travel via Akurdi Railway Station, even though it increases the distance.“Nigdi Chowk already faces heavy congestion in the evening hours, and the poor road condition has added to the problem. Earlier, private luxury buses were allowed to pass only after 10 pm, but now they can be seen anytime after 5 pm. The road is already narrow due to Metro work, and the movement of such heavy vehicles makes it difficult for regular commuters,” Pawar said.Pawar further said illegally parked autorickshaws further reduce the carriageway. The condition of this stretch had worsened during the monsoon when political parties and activists had protested against it. The issue was raised with Metro officials, who had agreed to carry out repairs, but residents said only patchwork was done instead of complete resurfacing, which has worsened the problem.“If repair work is not carried out now, the condition of the road will worsen during the monsoon, and it may become non-motorable. Authorities must act on priority,” Chikhale said.Shravan Hardikar, managing director of Maha Metro and PCMC additional commissioner, told TOI that the contractor has been instructed to complete the repair work on priority.“The issue was also discussed with the traffic police department because the road has to be closed during the repair work, and traffic will need to be diverted. I will follow up with the contractor concerned and ensure the work is done at the earliest. If there are any issues, they will be sorted out,” he said.
