Pune: Residents of Range Hills, including a large number of employees working at the Ammunition Factory Khadki (AFK) and High Explosives Factory and armed forces personnel, have expressed anger over the deteriorating condition of roads in the area.They have alleged that repeated requests and memorandums to the AFK management over the past few months have failed to bring any improvement.The roads in Range Hills are maintained by AFK.Residents said several stretches are riddled with potholes, making commuting particularly hazardous for two-wheelers and pedestrians. They also alleged that the poor condition of the roads has persisted despite the factory authorities being aware of the problem.AFK public relations officer BN Dubey said, “We have done the estimation of the work and it is under approval stage. We will execute the road repair works subsequently.”However, residents said the assurance has come after months of complaints and questioned why immediate temporary measures were not taken to address the dangerous potholes.Kartiki Hivarkar, former member of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) from the area, said the factory management needed to take the issue seriously and conduct a comprehensive survey of the roads. “The factory management should pay attention to this issue. They should come and survey each road to understand the severity of the problem. The roads have several potholes and driving and riding is hugely risky, especially at night because of dark patches on these roads,” Hivarkar said.She said it was surprising that the factory did not have an immediate repair plan despite the roads being used extensively by its own employees and residents. “Maximum residents are their employees. They can’t even think about their safety,” she said.Hivarkar claimed that she had raised the issue at various levels for several months but had received no concrete action. Residents too said the condition of the roads had worsened with the onset of the monsoon, when potholes become difficult to spot because of accumulated rainwater. The problem has also been compounded by a significant increase in traffic through Range Hills. The area provides an important link to the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, resulting in heavy movement of vehicles through the day.Residents said traffic congestion has become a regular feature, particularly around the railway subways that connect Range Hills with the highway. Commuters are often forced to slow down or queue up at these points, where potholes and persistent waterlogging have further aggravated the situation. “During rains, it becomes extremely difficult to identify the depth of the potholes. Two-wheelers are particularly vulnerable. There are also stretches without adequate lighting, making the situation worse after sunset,” said Tejas Chaudhari, a regular commuter.Residents have urged the factory authorities to expedite the approval process and undertake repairs before the roads deteriorate further. They also want the authorities to address waterlogging and improve lighting along vulnerable stretches.With Range Hills witnessing substantial daily traffic and serving as a key link between residential areas, industrial establishments and the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, residents said prolonged inaction could increase the risk of accidents and further disrupt movement in the area.The Range Hills also houses key defence establishments including Military Hospital, Kirkee, Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, CSD depot, Queens Merry Technical Institute, EME workshop, petroleum depot and officers quarters and bungalows.“Apart from civilian traffic movement, hundreds of military personnel have to daily navigate these pothole infested roads. The authorities concerned need to pay attention to it and repair it at the earliest,” a senior army officer told TOI.
