Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday inspected the road conditions in Chakan and reviewed rapid repair works being carried out using new technology. He said the state government would provide immediate relief from potholes while working on a long-term solution to the wider infrastructure problems in the Chakan-Talegaon industrial belt.
Shinde visited Chakan along with Industry Minister Uday Samant and Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi. He also met representatives of industrial associations and members of the Chakan Traffic Action Committee.
The visit comes amid growing concerns over severe traffic congestion and damaged roads in the industrial area. The government has now placed the issue under a multi-department plan, with the Pune district collector appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate the work.
Shinde said conventional asphalt repairs are difficult during the monsoon as water prevents the material from setting properly. The government is therefore using a rapid repair method that can reopen damaged road sections within a short time.
“We have come specifically to solve this problem. During the rainy season, water is the enemy of asphalt. We are therefore using geopolymer techno-patches for pothole repairs,” Shinde said.
Technology Used Earlier…
He said the technology had been used earlier in Thane, on the Nashik Highway and on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. For larger and deeper damaged sections, the government is using precast concrete panels. These are ready-made concrete slabs that can be transported to the site and placed on damaged portions of the road.
Shinde said around 200 to 300 such panels had already been brought to Chakan. The government plans to manufacture more panels locally in the future. He said the immediate repairs were only a temporary measure. A permanent solution would include road construction along with stormwater drains, footpaths and streetlights.
“Due to the lack of stormwater drainage systems and footpaths, rainwater accumulates and damages the roads. We are bringing an integrated solution,” Shinde said. The government has also directed several departments and agencies to work together on the Chakan-Talegaon infrastructure problem. The collector will coordinate work involving agencies such as MIDC, PMRDA and PWD.
'Repairs Would Be Carried Out On War Footing'
Samant said temporary repairs on the Talegaon-Shikrapur road would be carried out on a war footing. The work on the 0 km to 54 km stretch is expected to be completed before August 31 to help reduce traffic congestion.
The government is also targeting completion of the remaining 24% of MIDC road construction work before March. Land acquisition for a 500-metre stretch required for a parallel road towards the Shikrapur route has also been resolved, Samant said.
The wider plan also covers other civic problems in the industrial belt.
Samant said MIDC land had been approved for a dedicated waste depot after PMRDA sought a site. The allotment letter has already been issued. The government also plans to address water shortages in Chakan. Water Supply Minister Gulabrao Patil is expected to inspect the area next week under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The government has rejected claims that industrial units had issued deadlines or threatened to move out of Chakan. Samant said discussions with industry representatives remained positive.
'I Visited On Sunday Because…'
Action will also be taken against contractors who fail to complete road works according to required standards, he said. Such contractors could be blacklisted after following the due legal procedure.
Shinde said he chose to visit Chakan on a Sunday because most MIDC units remain closed, allowing repair work to be carried out with less traffic and disruption.
The Chakan-Talegaon belt has faced growing pressure from industrial traffic, poor road conditions and inadequate civic infrastructure. The government has now sought to treat the problem as more than a pothole issue, with road repairs, drainage, waste management, electricity and alternative connectivity being taken up together.
Shinde also appealed to the Opposition to support the efforts to resolve the problems faced by industries and residents.
“The government is fully committed to providing relief to industries as well as citizens,” he said.
What Is A Techno Patch?
The geopolymer techno-patch is a rapid road-repair technology designed particularly for pothole repairs during the monsoon, when conventional asphalt repairs are difficult because water interferes with the material setting properly. The material is applied directly to damaged portions of the road and is designed to harden quickly, allowing traffic to resume within a short period. Shinde said the technology has previously been used in Thane, on the Nashik Highway and on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
For larger and deeper road damage, the government is using precast concrete panels instead. These are ready-made concrete slabs manufactured separately, transported to the damaged location and placed directly into the affected section of the road. Shinde said around 200 to 300 panels had already been brought to Chakan, with plans to manufacture additional panels locally. The rapid-repair methods are intended as immediate relief, while permanent road reconstruction, including stormwater drainage, footpaths and streetlights, is planned as part of a wider infrastructure solution.
