Pune: Cricket fans traveling to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje for the India vs. New Zealand Test match encountered unexpected delays due to potholes along the Shirgaon-Gahunje route.

Many fans, particularly those coming from Mumbai, took the less crowded Somatne-Shirgaon shortcut with the aim of reaching on time.

However, their journey extended significantly as they encountered potholes covering nearly three kilometers of the route to Gahunje, turning a 10-minute drive into a grueling 45-minute ordeal.

The much-anticipated India-New Zealand Test match marked a return to cricket action at Gahunje Stadium after a long gap, drawing fans from both Pune and Mumbai.

Although the Somatne to Shirgaon road was relatively smooth, the stretch toward Gahunje proved problematic, causing significant inconvenience for those eager to reach the stadium early.

The journey turned taxing for both drivers and passengers as they navigated through an extended series of potholes, highlighting the road’s deteriorated condition.

The road’s degradation has been attributed to the presence of fertile black soil beneath. Originally, under the Chief Minister’s Village Road Scheme, the two-and-a-half-kilometer road from Gahunje to Shirgaon was approved for asphalt resurfacing in 2019 with a budget of ₹11.395 million.

Completed in December 2019, the road was under a five-year maintenance contract until December 2024, with an additional budget of ₹581,000 set aside for repairs.

Despite efforts by the contractor, the road continues to deteriorate due to the black soil, which causes the gravel and asphalt layers to erode repeatedly. The situation has left fans facing significant inconvenience, sparking calls for an urgent, lasting solution.

Kuldeep Bodke, Sarpanch, Gahunje, said, "The black soil beneath causes gravel and asphalt layers to wear down frequently. To resolve this, a complete concrete reconstruction of the road is planned."