Pune: Allegations of irregularities in tar procurement have raised concerns over the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) ambitious ‘Mission 17’ road improvement initiative, potentially delaying the project.
Following the successful execution of ‘Mission 15,’ aimed at reducing congestion and enhancing major roads across Pune, PMC launched ‘Mission 17’ to revamp 17 more roads. However, a Rs 126 crore tender for a three-year tar procurement contract has now come under scrutiny, with calls for its cancellation.
Criticism has surfaced over PMC’s decision to procure tar through contractors rather than directly from manufacturers. Reports indicate that the same batch of tar was supplied to both PMC and the Public Works Department (PWD), raising red flags. Advocate Nilesh Nikam, former opposition leader in PMC, has demanded a probe into the matter, urging Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale to intervene.
Concerns have been raised that this tendering process could lead to significant financial losses, as PMC may be missing out on bulk purchase discounts from oil companies. Nikam has also pointed out that for years, only a single contractor has been securing these tenders, hinting at possible malpractice. If the tender is scrapped, ‘Mission 17’ could face indefinite delays.
Pune’s deteriorating roads have long been a concern, with frequent patchwork repairs proving ineffective. The issue has drawn the attention of national authorities, including the President’s Office, and even disrupted the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In response, Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar directed PMC to move away from temporary repairs and instead focus on durable road infrastructure.
Under ‘Mission 15,’ PMC successfully transformed 15 major roads into high-speed corridors. ‘Mission 17’ aims to replicate this success across additional key routes, but the ongoing controversy over tar procurement threatens to stall progress.
Key Roads Under ‘Mission 17’
The roads slated for redevelopment include, Saswad Road, Katraj-Mantrawadi Bypass, Old Airport Road, Alandi Road, Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, Shastri Road, Nehru Road, Tilak Road, Sadhu Vaswani Road, Bund Garden Road, Dr. Ambedkar Road, MG Road, Prince of Wales Road, Kondhwa Main Road, JM Road, Fergusson Road, Senapati Bapat Road
Further complicating matters, PMC has granted permissions for cable-laying work by Mahapreet and CCTV installation by Pune City Police. These projects will involve extensive road digging, leading to more potholes and worsening the city’s traffic conditions. Road department officials have yet to issue a statement on the matter.
If the controversy surrounding tar procurement leads to delays, Pune’s already burdened commuters could face prolonged disruptions in the city’s road network.
