Pune: Water seepage has again started to pose risk to motorists at Swargate Chowk underpass just three months after repairs were conducted in Nov 2025.Motorists, especially motorcycle riders, said seeping water was posing a risk. Possibilities of skidding of bikes and accidents cannot be ruled out, they said. The underpass caters to vehicles travelling from Shankarsheth Road towards Sarasbaug.The Pune Municipal Corporation had repaired the underpass in Nov 2025. The grade separator was closed for two days to facilitate repair works. The PMC planned the repairs and closure of the facility for two days in Oct 2025. However, the work was postponed following heavy rainfall.An official had said, “It was not possible to carry out repairs due to heavy rain. Later, the administration decided not to close the underpass during festive days.”Riders pointed out that the water was seeping on a down gradient, where most vehicles run fast. In a skidding event, riders can lose balance and hit the walls. Besides, motorists have observed that the water pipes fixed on the wall of the underpass are also leaking at a few spots in the underpass, leading to accumulation of water on side-lanes of the carriageway.Pankaj Gore, who frequently travels from Swargate, told TOI, “Lack of regular maintenance has been leading to leakages every now and then. It is causing hardships to commuters. Despite efforts, the civic body has not been able to stop the water seepage. There is a need to identify the water sources.”A resident of Ghorpade Peth, Ashok Raskar, said the underpass was shut twice for repairs. “The authorities should carry out a third-party audit of the underpass,” he said.Kishor Jaadhav, who works in the Swargate area, said water seepage had been there for the past few days. The walls of the underpass are also wet, which indicates that the administration has not been able to completely stop the leakages. The condition might become critical during monsoon, he said.Officials from PMC said seepage was significantly arrested during the last closure and more work would be carried out to repair ongoing leakages. “During previous works, the teams repaired the covers of the stormwater channels and seepages at walls. We will again check the condition of the walls and identify the source of leakages,” officials said.Trupti Shah, a regular commuter, said continuous leakage of water would further deteriorate the condition of the carriageway and would lead to potholes and bumpy rides. Water is accumulating outside the storm water channels and flowing on the carriageway. It shows that cleaning and maintenance works are not being carried out properly. Poor lighting is another issue commuters are facing at the underpass, Shah said.The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) constructed the underpass and it was later handed over to PMC.
