PMC warns road contractors of penalties, contract cancellation ahead of Grand Tour 2027

A warning has gone out to road contractors working on preparations for the Grand Tour 2027, the international cycling event to be held in Pune. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made it clear that contractors who do not meet the corporation's progress targets may be fined and may have their contracts cancelled. The corporation has also tightened monitoring of infrastructure works.

The last date for completing utility digging on the race route has been set at November 20. Any agency that digs up a road after this date will have to pay at least four times the current excavation fee. The corporation stopped granting fresh permissions for such work from October 31.

The warning followed a joint inspection review held on November 12. The meeting was chaired by PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi. Officials reviewed the status of four work packages for road improvement and urban upgrading. Particular concern was raised at the meeting over delays in completing excavation even after permissions had been granted.

Agencies such as MNGL, MSEDCL, Dinesh Engineering and Allied Digital have been told to finish their remaining work on schedule. They will have to coordinate their work with the contractors responsible for rebuilding the affected stretches.

The corporation is also pressing contractors to deploy more workers and field separate teams to speed up work. The works include repairing concrete sections, laying asphalt, building footpaths and installing kerbstones.

Progress will be measured at the next review. The administration expects most packages to cross 36 per cent completion. A target of at least 30 per cent has been set for the package that is further ahead.

The corporation has also tightened the definition of when road work will be counted as complete. A road with only a fresh layer will not be counted as finished. Footpaths, kerbs, white road markings and other ancillary items must also be in place.

There is also a plan to give selected public areas a new look as part of the preparations. This includes wall art, sculptures, green spaces and seating. Junctions, road dividers and other important spots will also be improved.

The PMC is considering involving private developers and corporate sponsors. They could take up, at their own cost, the improvement of selected roads, junctions and public spaces.

The administration's larger aim is to have the cycling route ready for the international event and to leave the city with better-maintained roads and more useful public spaces afterwards.