Research on Demand | SN Global Infra Research

The Jungli Maharaj Road in Deccan is a civil engineering marvel which is often referred to when talking about how a good road should be. Built in the 70s, the 2.5 Km road is undergoing major changes for the first time in 35 years. "The redevelopment started in October. Nearly 95% work is over. With just finishing touches remaining, the new road should be ready in 20 to 25 days," said Yuvraj Deshmukh, executive engineer of the PMC's road department. Two layer tarring, lane marking, beautification of junctions and developing storm water drainage are part of the renovation work. Besides, the PMC plans to rebuild footpaths, but that will happen only after next year's civic budget. The JM Road was first tarred in the late 1970s by a Mumbai based contractor using the best technology available then. He had given a 10 year guarantee, but the road has had no major problems in the last 35 years. It suffered for the first time in the year 2000 when it was dug up for laying medians. Except for a few repairs, the road remained the same. "The dedication and confidence of the road construction company is commendable. The contractor had given a written assurance that if any problem develops during the guarantee period, the company would reconstruct the road without charging a single rupee," Shirkant Shirole, the then standing committee chairman of PMC, told. Shirole said the PMC spent INR 15 lakh for the road which was ready in 1.6 years. INR 15 lakh was considered a huge sum in those days. A special provision was made to allot the funds to the company without issuing tender notices, he said. All about the Road Named after Jangli Maharaj Mandir, the road has historical, political and cultural relevance. Located adjacent to the temple is the protected monument of Pataleshwar Caves, a rock cut cave temple, carved out during the Rashtrakuta period in the 8th century. This temple, dedicate to Lord Shiva, is made of basalt rock. The temple presents a beautiful picture of old world charm and is located right on the JM Road. The Balgandharva auditorium, a well known landmark, has maintained the road's identity as a centre for political and cultural happenings. Many agitations, including the recent anti-corruption movement, were carried out here. Though several RCC constructions have come up along the road, a few old fashioned buildings still exist. J M Road is a favorite of youngsters and shoppers with all major national and international brands having an outlet here. Foodies too frequent the place for trying different cuisine that range from authentic Maharashtrian food to Chinese delicacies. Since August 2009, the road has been made into a one way. As the vehicles' speed increased, the road became unsafe for pedestrians. Since then, citizens groups, working for sustainable transport and road safety, have criticized the PMC for not completing the works suggested by an expert panel. About the JM Road Most parts of the country, including Maharashtra, witnessed very heavy rains in 1973. Pune too bore the brunt. Most city roads were riddled with potholes and driving or walking on them became a challenge. The civic administration blamed it on heavy rains. "Some Pune corporators visited Mumbai and found that though Mumbai suffered more showers, the roads there were far better as compared with the roads in Pune. So inquiries were made about the contractors who built Mumbai's roads. It led us to a company which had an office in Panvel. The company was asked to construct the roads in city," said Shrikant Shirole. The Panvel based company took it as a challenge to construct the JM Road. The road was opened for use in 1976 with a written assurance that the road will have no problems at all till 1985. Road Facelift <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;">The work started in October 2013 and is likely to be completed by February this year</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Total expenditure INR 1.5 crore</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Two level tarring</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Development of junctions</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Storm water drainage</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Lane marking</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Leveling of roads</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Filling up potholes</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Footpaths</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">The redevelopment started in October. Nearly 95% work is over. With just finishing touches remaining, the road should be ready in 20 to 25 days</li> </ul> Source-On Request

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