Grade separator in Pimpri plagued by potholes

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has failed to repair major potholes in the grade separator in Pimpri, despite repeated complaints by the citizens.

On Saturday, a major accident was averted at the spot when three vehicles collided against each other in a bid to avoid the potholes. One person was seriously injured in the mishap and had to be admitted to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital.

Local businessman living in Nigdi Pradhikaran Shailesh Shinde said, “I was going to Pune with my family around 10 pm on Sunday when I noticed the potholes. The Mumbai-Pune highway is the most busy stretch in Pune. How can civic authorities neglect the public safety?”

Shinde added that the potholes were all the more hazardous because vehicles sped up at the grade separators in absence of traffic signal and it increases the possibility of an accident taking place.

The grade separator has four lanes - two meant for vehicles going to Pune and two for vehicles travelling towards Nigdi and Mumbai. It was constructed to ease traffic congestion at vantage Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk and Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk at Pimpri.

However, right from the beginning due to the improper storm water drainage system, potholes always carved on the stretch, creating problems for commuters. PCMC closed the Pimpri grade separator several times for repair work, but in vain.

PCMC engineering department official spokesperson Shirish Poredi said, “The engineering department will temporarily fill up the potholes with rubble and later the bituminous work will be carried out.”archana_d@dnaindia.net