Pune: Despite a ₹4.5 crore allocation for painting flyovers and bridges in Pune in preparation for the G-20 summit, the funds have been returned unspent due to delayed work.
The Project Department halted painting projects across several major flyovers and bridges in April and has yet to finalize steps for completion, resulting in unsightly, half-painted structures across the city.
Pune, which hosted three G-20 meetings this year, received ₹200 crore from the state government to enhance its infrastructure. Of this, ₹10 crore was allocated for painting flyovers, bridges, and underpasses.
Although tenders were issued and work was initiated, incomplete projects have left key city bridges, including the Satba Kodre Flyover, Prince Aga Khan Railway Flyover, and Sangamwadi Bridge, partially painted.
The single-color paint without any artistic embellishment has further reduced the aesthetic value of these flyovers, contrasting with creatively painted flyovers in nearby Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Project Department Superintendent Engineer Abhijit Dombe stated, “The painting work remains unfinished due to delays. We are considering completing the work using municipal funds after discussions with the administration.”
The contractors responsible for the work must now obtain certification from the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) for quality assurance before any payment is released.
Recently PMC had raised concerns about the excessive expenses reported for minor modifications in advertisements placed on public walls under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The advertisements, which promote cleanliness and awareness, were initially installed last year and remain in good condition. This year, the only required change is the update of the year from 2023 to 2024.
