1 day Ago By Sandip Dighe
Pune: Local residents of the Range Hills area have complained about the poor condition of the approximately 1km-long Central Avenue road which is under the management of the Ammunition Factory Khadki (AFK). The stretch is part of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) and is riddled with potholes, said residents, adding that the Ammunition Factory has ignored its maintenance over the last few years. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Former KCB member Kartiki Hivarkar said she has continuously been complaining about the road for the last many years.
"However, no one has paid any heed. The said road is the main stretch in the Range Hills area, where workers of the Ammunition Factory live. They are also frustrated with the current condition of the stretch.
I approached the cantonment board to find a solution, but in vain." Range Hills is a prominent location in Khadki. It houses residential quarters of Army personnel, including officers and ordnance factory workers.
Since it is a centrally located neighbourhood, a significant number of citizens use the road to access the old Pune-Mumbai highway. BK Dubey, AFK public relations officer, told TOI, "Our maintenance team has surveyed the road and we are considering the matter. We will soon initiate maintenance work.
" Citizens said AFK has been ignoring the overall maintenance of the area. "Once upon a time, decades ago, Range Hills was known for being clean and green. At present, the entire locality is evidently ignored.
The residential quarters are in a shambles, cleanliness is not up to the mark and roads are in a bad condition. The standard has deteriorated significantly," said an AFK worker, who lives in the quarters. A section of people blame the cantonment board for doing little to maintain the basic standards of the area.
"KCB has barely done anything to improve the condition of the locality over the last few years. It is their responsibility to provide basic civic facilities," said Kiran Taware, an activist from Khadki. Key defence establishments such as the Military Hospital, Kirkee, Queen Mary's Technical Institute, Army Paraplegic Centre and the Army's canteen store depot are in the Range Hills area.
"The roads are narrow and its condition bad. During peak hours, traffic conditions are a nightmare. Authorities concerned need to improve the road infrastructure to address the problem," said Deepak Patil, a daily commuter.
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