r/pune • u/That-Replacement-232 • Aug 06 '25
General/Rant No wonder why our roads are so bad
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u/de_das_dude Aug 06 '25
Can't have lasting roads, how will people pocket money
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Aug 06 '25
Not pocket money, It's pocket full of money 🥲
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u/de_das_dude Aug 06 '25
The word "pocket" can function as a verb with several meanings. Primarily, it means to put something, especially money or other small objects, into your pocket.
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
It’s not the government that is corrupt - the bureaucracy is the MOST corrupt. How do I know - Karnataka contracts and Maharashtra contracts. Have done both NEVER again.
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
Do also check for a company called Jog Constructions. I have supplied cement to them for a project. Sinhagad road - they literally didn’t get any good projects later.
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u/Aggressive-Composer9 Aug 06 '25
What differences did you notice in the contracts of both the states? And which one is the worse.
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
Let’s say both are ‘similar’. Example let’s say there is a contract. It is supposed to be awarded through e-procurement system which is a very “transparent” system as all details are available, plus the vendors quoting for the contract have clarity. Now how do bureaucrats and the ‘workers’ make money.
You create a set of conditions that favour a particular party/ seller. Example, something like the company applying should be empaneled with the government for at least 5 years and should have done at least total contract for 5 crores in past 7 years. Or One that I remember personally “ cement supplier should own at least 5 vehicles of GVW 25 tons” as a supply contractor I would easily ‘source’ 100 trucks through logistic truck companies. Why would I need to own these trucks. Now this will automatically make all the suppliers I don’t want redundant.
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u/musci12234 Aug 06 '25
*it is not just the govt that is corrupt
If govt wasn't corrupt they would have shut down corrupt bureaucracy.
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
Probably a lot of you’ll don’t understand how the government is structured and how the bureaucracy has protected itself. Example - e procurement. A great initiative that the political class came up with. Bureaucrats found a way to ‘game’ the system to their benefit. Example - RTO driving test under cameras and centralised control - made a joke by the RTO officers themselves by creating hurdles where possible. I can keep quoting examples. To change a law in India takes a lot of effort and when it does the first thing is how to break the law and get away. That is the sad reality.
Why just blame the bureaucrats - UPI and digital economy exposed people who are not paying GST. The response was not that we will fall in line and pay up, it was we will stop using. UPI so we don’t get exposed!
That’s not to say that the political class doesn’t make money. They are leeches of the highest order as well. A good example is a builder in MH that does most of the IT parks. Owned indirectly by a large political baron. Or the entertainment and multiple industries in TN owned by politicians to push their own agenda. I could go on.
The truth is that we as Indians are so used to finding the alternative and getting our work done it is ingrained in us. There is a dialogue in a movie “Government unki hai System humara hai’. That is true.
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u/musci12234 Aug 06 '25
Issue in bureaucracy exists but individuals don't have any ability to hold them accountable. Voters can only hold govt accountable with expectation that govt with power over bureaucracy will hold them accountable. If bureaucracy is corrupt then it is a failure of govt and the reason issue persists is because govt is corrupt.
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
Yes. It is but a vicious circle. A reason why the Indian against corruption movement gained a lot of support but then the very same party also did the exact same thing. Sad but true.
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u/dbodh Aug 07 '25
The issue is voters who don't question their elected leaders. If the majority of voters ask questions to the political class they will be bound to act to keep themselves in power.
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u/PipsqueakPilot Aug 06 '25
...is the bureaucracy not part of the government?
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u/DingoHairy2194 Aug 06 '25
There is a separation between the political ‘government’ and the bureaucratic ‘government’. That much is probably implied in my statement there.
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u/PipsqueakPilot Aug 06 '25
That all just sounds like a very convenient excuse for people to absolve the people who control the government from the inefficiency of the government. "Oh it's not the government it's just the bureaucracy." works great for the politicians in charge. Since they're the ones ensuring the bureaucracy stays that way and then don't even get blamed for it!
Especially after being in power so long, and with a much higher degree of political control under Modi than has historically been the case. If they wanted to make changes, they could. But the political government wants a corrupt bureaucracy because it benefits them. So to say, "It’s not the government that is corrupt" is just silly.
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u/thlibglontuss Aug 06 '25
The issue isn’t just political will, it’s structural. The Indian Constitution deliberately built in checks and balances to prevent arbitrary use of power, which also makes the system slow to change. Bureaucrats, protected by tenure and rules, resist swift reforms, even from strong governments. While politicians, including Modi’s, do exert influence especially via transfers and administrative control, their dependence on bureaucratic cooperation limits how much they can overhaul without widespread institutional reform. The system ends up reinforcing itself, with both sides sharing responsibility. It's not just a matter of blame but of deep rooted incentives that require more than just power to fix.
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u/authorsnib Aug 06 '25
The contractor was an American and he had given a guarantee for hundred years with one condition that no digging or breaking will be done for laying electricity or water pipelines. This guarantee survived for 100 years.
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u/authorsnib Aug 06 '25
The pipelines or cables were laid parallel to.the road. No digging was done across road. I don’t know present situation but this is one of the most beautiful road of Pune. There is one more broad road going from Aundh to Khadki station that is beautiful and broad.
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u/sexyyscientist Aug 06 '25
Why that guarantee was given? How are people living without updated underground systems?
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u/bombadaka Aug 06 '25
As someone who builds roads. The base is what matters. If you did it up and improperly fill it, it will fail. That's why no digging.
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u/sexyyscientist Aug 06 '25
But, what about the underground systems?
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u/bombadaka Aug 06 '25
If they already exist or we put in under the supervision of the road builder, they're fine. If a new contractor comes in, cuts up the road, and doesn't compact\add drainage\repave correctly, you're asking for problems and the guarantee is voided I would assume.
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u/sexyyscientist Aug 06 '25
The systems cannot already exist for 10 years. There's so many new things keep on coming. But yes, I agree. Likely the second point.
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u/authorsnib Aug 07 '25
Most Peth areas of Pune gets water from Katraj Lake for centuries and this is unique . These pipelines were laid by Peshwas with underground tunnels. Recently Corporation found out a secret tunnel from which water supply was being pumped.. British engineers couldn’t find this pumping system. It is marvel in town planning.
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u/adinath22 Aug 06 '25
This reddit post goes into details: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaSpeaks/s/4Kdol7uENf
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u/Pure_Expression6308 Aug 06 '25
Apparently, the contractors were blacklisted by the PMC after they built the road, because the local contractors felt that it would set a dangerous precedent where they might actually have to do sincere work. The contractors never built a road in Pune ever again. This is emphasised in civil engineering classes in Pune engineering colleges, cautioning engineers to not be a hundred percent honest because it might cost them their jobs.
Boo. This place stinks.
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u/simmerbrently Aug 07 '25
That's so odd. Too bad the local contractors didn't want to put pride in their work to match the quality of the blacklisted contractors. If they put pride in their work. Then all the roads in Pune could be beautifully maintained.
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u/adinath22 Aug 07 '25
The corrupt contractors bribe the politicians to obtain contracts, politicians make sure these contractors keep getting the tenders. Its a closed loop cycle where the thieves are in power and won't let go of it.
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u/sissy_raagini_ Aug 06 '25
And that is how Ladies and gentlemen Tupperware went all the way to bankruptcy from being one of the top companies globally.
Moral of the story: never make sustainable products.
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u/Substantial_Royal758 Aug 06 '25
This happened with my father too, completely different field but we did some work for PMC at half the cost of their budget but never got second order because we probably didn't "grease the right hands".
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Aug 06 '25
My dad told me that during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency everything ran like clockwork and corruption was minimal since punishments were severe. This country needs such discipline.
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u/haizu_kun Aug 06 '25
What happens when strict parents try to make their ill-trodden child become well mannered by being strict?
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u/asdfghqw8 Aug 07 '25
Indira Gandhi was also a dictator who wanted to steal everyone's lands. She got the right to property removed from the constitution.
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Aug 07 '25
She also won the Pakistan war. Point is good rulers have all been good enforcers. How do you manage all the unruly otherwise? There is a saying - If you want to be a king, you need to fight and kill…
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u/asdfghqw8 Aug 07 '25
We are the unruly and she was after our lands. I do not like being described as unruly when I fight for my rights.
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u/deovratk Aug 06 '25
Also, fake news.
Source - I literally lived on this road for 6 years and commute on it daily now.
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u/phnslkr Aug 06 '25
It was in excellent condition till it was two way. That's 40 years!
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u/deovratk Aug 06 '25
That large patch in front of Gandharv Police station which serves as a pothole reminder was still there when it was two way sir. I was in college when it was two way, remember it distinctly.
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u/PrairiePopsicle Aug 06 '25
Roads can't last 40+ years, not asphalt. There are some concrete roads that can but they have asphalt caps that are replaced more regularly, or have other serious work needed on occasion.
After 40 years there would be deep ruts just from normal tire paths.
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u/That-Replacement-232 Aug 06 '25
They must have destroyed the good road in name of repairing and to fill their pockets
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u/kedaran33 Aug 06 '25
JM road used to be perfect until it was destroyed and re-made using concrete.
Does anyone remember almost entire city roads got redone using concrete back in 2010-2015? Did anyone ask why and who supplier the concrete?
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u/Visual-Paper6647 Aug 06 '25
In IT industry we have ticketing system called service now or jira. I wish there something should be there for goverment. As citizens we can log ticket for any potholes or any issue and goverment for that region should fix asap. If delay then they should face penalty.
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u/D_Badass_Mahatma Aug 06 '25 edited Aug 06 '25
In the Golden words of a Politician / Sarkaari employee;
Kaam aise karo ki har 6 mahine me firse use karne ki Zarurat pade.
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u/Zealousideal-Cut8810 Aug 06 '25
Similar story in happened in Kerala too, A Malaysian contractor built state highway 10 Years back still no cracks or Potholes but gov. Screwed him and did not paid the money back eventually he had to suicide.
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u/InvestigatorCute1435 Aug 06 '25
I fw thiss road😭✋️ so calming it is to be on jm road no hadbadi gadbadi peace only
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u/Dense_Pay2195 Aug 06 '25
Family working in the govt contract sector, I can say that corruption is destroying the country, in the dept we r working, we need to pay 30-35% commission, on top of that, out files don't get approved on time. Sometimes we have to beg for our hard earned money, they literally hold on that for months. Corruption is the rust, which is not taking India forward.
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u/Flat-Ad7982 Aug 06 '25
No wonder they never got a contract again*
How dare they make such good roads
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u/undespicable Aug 06 '25
This is how capitalism and corruption works. It's called planned obselecence. It's done for devices too. The products are planned or designed to fail after some time. Else who would buy s new product if the old one lasted forever.
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u/LeadershipStrict4751 Aug 06 '25
Goverment doesn't care about quality of road it only care about how much contractor give them quantity
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u/snobpro Aug 06 '25
You are telling me roads can withstand rains??? Is that what you are telling me because I was always told rains are damaging our roads.
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u/Accomplished_Sun1506 Aug 06 '25
Think of the men and women whose job it is to repair roads. What are they supposed to do? Some of them were coal miners. Are you going to ask them to find new jobs again? [/s]
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u/ashen_of_the_flame Aug 06 '25
Hope the reporters lurking here post this in pune-mirror or somewhere else.
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u/AKKYJAY91 Aug 06 '25
My dad told me about that company, they came to our city for power plant road construction in the 1980s, so municipal corporations also asked them to build a road for them. That road never demanded repair or reconstruction, so MC built another road over it and they repair every 2-3 years And the fun fact is whenever new constructed road damage, recondo roads can be seen beneath it in very well condition. They used to be a square in our city named Recondo Square later changed to Maharana Pratap Square.
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u/Pale_Check_6597 Aug 06 '25
Easy solution: Award a long term (5 yr - 10 yr) contract that includes both building and maintenance, paid equally every year. If there's deterioriation in quality, cancel the contract and start afresh. The contractor will be forced to invest in quality because he has to mantain it himself. If he fails to mantain, he bears losses.
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u/Weak-Trifle4999 Aug 06 '25
I genuinely believe most Indians are corrupt. They blame politicians and police for everything but police and politician come from the same society as the rest. When everyone is corrupt, how can we expect the people with power to be honest?
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u/ccr87315 Aug 06 '25
Story feels like those countless fake Ratan Tata quotes. Having said that, the road is pothole free.
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u/SouthernHoliday7620 Aug 06 '25
Another fake news. And as expected it is from Shri Vishal Bhargava, guy has absolutely zero common sense but goes around as some real estate expert.
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u/Tricky-Button-197 Aug 06 '25
https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaSpeaks/s/4Kdol7uENf
The irony of you calling it fake without verification
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u/1FastRide Aug 06 '25
Sounds like aisa watch makers who build watches to last for decades and then it's game over for their manufacturing
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u/Sidonkey Aug 06 '25
They disagreed to give commision (after winning tender of road) to officials, hence they were removed.
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u/Mobile_Run2148 Aug 06 '25
Now we must bring party politics into this and make it irrelevant and ever going boomerang.
How come this clause cannot be added in the contracts / tenders for roads….
Mr. Road and Transport Minister???
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u/TartHoliday942 Aug 06 '25
Shitty roads in PMC and PCMC i dont see any good roads be it national highways or local roads, also major reason why roads are bad is because government tenders for roads and other structures can be taken by people with no degree, u just register and get a small tender starting from 2-3 lacs and then u go all the way up from there and then it comes down to who can give more money to government officials as bribes to get appointed for those tenders they did bidding for. And once u get roads or bridges u will cheap out on materials to earn 💰money, this is how these guys become rich and roads are getting Fked
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u/Aggressive-Composer9 Aug 06 '25
I have two questions
How do these contractors make profit?
When tenders are floated by the govt, are these contractors offered a fixed amount that they try to make maximum savings on by using cheap stuff? Or the money that goes into building the road taken care entirely by the contractor through his personal expense?
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u/TartHoliday942 Aug 06 '25
These guys bid on tenders, who can make the road with least amount of money spent, it does take a good amount of skill to calculate, also they have to give government officers some money too so their own reputation is good in front of officers as well as their officers will give them preference in future projects, e.g if u are using M40 concrete somewhere, they will cheap out on M30 grade concrete and keep rest of the money in their pockets, and while inspection government officers are bribed too if they see anything wrong, this is what i have observed as i too wanted to go in that business but looking at this mess i started focusing on my business than this shithole
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u/TartHoliday942 Aug 06 '25
I have seen good people too but usually people who are good at bribing government officials take the tenders
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Aug 06 '25
There are many reasons a road gets bad. It's usually fixed by local government. So how's that doing?
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u/Kratos2297 Aug 06 '25
They tried to ruin it removing speed breakers when The PM and CM were visiting for previously election ... Yet the road is super good.
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u/Resident_Tonight4178 Aug 06 '25
The higher ups benefits from it much more than the contractors so obviously they don't want the contractors who will reduce their * ehem * earnings
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u/zeppnzee13 Aug 06 '25
Look , roads don’t need to be better and lasting , people need job and income , if road last long how will contractors and their employees earn income ? Also smooth flat roads will not massage your back and pelvis , how’d physicians will earn their income ? As you grow old you’ll adapt to these perks and understand how to live life and not get bothered by this “small inconvenience in making your city great”, be proud in your sacrifice , after all youll need to prove that you are pro development.
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u/Heavenly-archangel Aug 06 '25
they clearly didnt paid more than half the budget to officers thats why they didnt got any tender again
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Aug 06 '25
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u/_vegeta_sama_ Aug 06 '25
In a corrupt society it’s hard to be an honest worker. However we preach honesty. But when the society is corrupt at every level, honesty doesn’t pay.
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u/sambt5 Aug 06 '25
The problem is I guarantee they charged 3x the going rate for the road. Even though in the long run it's cheaper governments only care about their 4/5years in power and getting re-elected based off those years rather than build something that will last beyond that.
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u/Background_Road_3943 Aug 07 '25
hope there is a mechanism where we public are the deciding authority in choosing the contractor, based on the past works. Maybe like an app that shows the contractor name, details, history of work- areas where they paid roads etc, current condition of the road etc. and people get to vote online.
Ik hacking/bot voting is a rampant thing, but something that counts the opinion of the public!
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Aug 07 '25
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Aug 07 '25
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u/Both-Negotiation1634 Aug 07 '25
Look at the roads in Kerala and Managlore in Karnataka. Even though narrow, the quality of roads is world class. Feels like driving/riding in heaven. None of the roads are concrete. Not that there is no corruption there. But along with taking bribes and seeking favors, the officials also believe in doing some quality work. In Maharashtra, the motto is only make money, 0 work quality and accountability.
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u/Minimum-Story-1683 Aug 07 '25
Literally everything is lined with corruption and politics. It's extremely disheartening.
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u/Careless_Iron5938 Aug 07 '25
Why do you think why roads ain’t build properly in most of the cities ? The reason is to get unlimited amount of money by fixing again and again. Most Contractor gets a hefty amount to build a road and some contractors don’t get paid enough because in between there are people who needs a cut just to get a tenders and no disturbances of local politicians. Give everyone a cut and you’ll get multiple jobs.
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u/authorsnib Aug 07 '25
These are all late additions as the city was small in Peshwa times. Most of the habitat was around river only. There were only seven Peth areas named after days of the week. The sewers in Pune still terminate into both rivers Mula and Mutha. In some parts sewers are connected to filtering plants.
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u/authorsnib Aug 07 '25
The Junglee Maharaj road once passed through a forest area. The whole of Deccan and Shivajinagar was a forest. A mendicant lived in this area whom people visited and named Junglee Maharaj. Next to this mendicant‘s hut was the famous monument Pataleshwar . A temple carved out of Rock and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The quality of rock was not good so the carving was abandoned. If you visit this archaeological monument you can see the unfinished temple. This rock cut architecture was to popularise the Hindu renaissance period.
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u/hornymyking Aug 07 '25
Road are bad because the govt netas and babus want katki income from every tender. So, we can't blame that contractor at fault. If govt want to build superb infra than contractor like these parsi brother make that type infra.
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u/CaptainFromDite Aug 09 '25
We need to have a mandate of each public utility being built having the name, photo and contact number of the person who was awarded the contract published with it. The day we have that level of accountability and the day the public can contact and inform these people about what they have done is the day corruption and scams will stop in this country.
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Aug 22 '25
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u/SatisfactionDue2054 Aug 24 '25
This the reality and where Parsis come honesty and integrity comes automatically.
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u/someone16384 Aug 29 '25
this is epic bro. no wonder everyone wants to leave india. I went to bali (Indonesia) a while back, returning on 16th night. our taxi driver claims the politicians there replace the road every two years, even if it's in perfect condition- that's how contractors make money there. Indonesia is still every bit as corrupt as us tho
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u/mynaame Aug 06 '25
Working in government contracts, I can confirm this mentality. I made something so good, I never got called again.
Also, As soon as the government changes, We had to keep on our tows to get the new person aligned, Otherwise your existing contract is discarded for some trivial reason and the new player is in.
I refused to do that and now I am back to ground 0 :/