Pune: As President of India Droupadi Murmu's visit to Pune draws near, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated urgent repairs on Ganeshkhind Road, which has been severely damaged by potholes.

The road, a key route currently undergoing metro and flyover construction, had been flagged for repair by the PMC to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). However, with delays from the PMRDA, the PMC has taken matters into its own hands.

Monsoon rains have exacerbated the pothole problem across Pune, leading to significant traffic jams and driver frustration, particularly on Ganeshkhind Road, where the Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi metro and flyover work is ongoing. Joint meetings between the PMC, PMRDA, and traffic police have been held to address the issue, but the road's condition remained poor.

With President Murmu scheduled to visit on September 3, the PMC has accelerated its efforts to ensure that the road is in good condition. Although the responsibility for road repairs lies with PMRDA, the PMC has begun the work and plans to recover the costs from PMRDA later.

Due to the frequent shutdown of the PMC's hot mix plant in Yerawada during the monsoon and its limited operational capacity, the corporation is now sourcing hot mix from private contractors to expedite the repairs.

Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of the PMC's Road Department, confirmed the plan, emphasizing that the road will be ready before the President's arrival.

Since August 26, the PMC has filled 432 potholes on Ganeshkhind Road, using 1334 tons of asphalt to cover an area of 1981 square meters. Additionally, 36 road chambers have been repaired as part of the ongoing effort.