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Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PMC to use GPR for underground utility mapping to prevent damage and improve planning
To minimise damage to underground utilities and prevent disruptions during infrastructure and construction projects, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a new initiative to map the city's underground service networks using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology. The goal is to ensure better planning and coordination before any roadwork, metro construction, or public utility projects are undertaken. (HT) This initiative aims to create a detailed underground utility map, marking the precise locations of water pipelines, drainage lines, electrical cables, gas lines, and other essential service lines. The goal is to ensure better planning and coordination before any roadwork, metro construction, or public utility projects are undertaken. 'Pune's roads are not only congested on the surface but also beneath it. Multiple utilities—ranging from water and drainage to telecom and power cables—are competing for space underground, making maintenance and new installations extremely challenging,' said Ganesh Sonune, head of PMC's disaster management department. He added, 'We are using GPR technology to map the underground utilities throughout the city. This will help us identify and relocate existing lines before starting major infrastructure projects. On Tuesday, we signed an agreement with MAHAPREIT (Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited), a government-supported company, to carry out this work. The project is part of the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) and is funded by the central government.' The PMC has set aside ₹600 crore for upcoming disaster management works, with the underground utility mapping project being a key part of this plan. Officials pointed out that GPR surveys are especially critical in planning metro lines and stations. The technology allows engineers to design around key underground utilities, like sewers and high-voltage cables, or prepare plans to relocate them ahead of construction. 'These georadar systems, supported by advanced positioning and software tools, provide fast, accurate, and non-destructive mapping, which is essential in densely populated urban areas,' explained Sonune. Currently, PMC manages over 2,200 km of road networks across Pune. However, more than 100 km of these roads are dug up each year by 14 external utility agencies—including mobile operators, CCTV networks, and the state electricity board—alongside PMC's four internal departments responsible for water supply, drainage, stormwater lines, and street lighting. 'While we do recover restoration costs from utility agencies, the road surface rarely returns to its original condition. Delays in reinstatement and poor coordination among agencies often cause public inconvenience,' said a senior official from the PMC Road Department. Sonune stressed that the underground mapping initiative will help reduce the need for repeated digging, improve coordination between departments, and enhance the overall quality of civic infrastructure. Sahebrao Dandge, superintendent engineer of the Road Department, added that the new mapping system will significantly improve the city's infrastructure planning and minimise disruptions to daily life caused by uncoordinated utility work.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Pune civic body steps up control measures as 73 new flood-prone spots emerge
As the city has witnessed a worrying rise in flood-prone spots between 2023 and 2025 with 73 new flood-prone spots identified by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the month of June alone, the civic body has taken a proactive approach and introduced a slew of measures to tackle the emerging challenges. The PMC has sought additional funding and a detailed project report with an estimated cost of ₹250 crores has been prepared to tackle the surge in flood-prone spots. Pune is one of only seven cities in the country to be allocated funds by the central government to mitigate the risk of urban flooding under the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP). The National Disaster Management Authority has allocated ₹50 crore for five years to the city. To further enhance flood management, the PMC has established a new disaster management cell equipped with modern facilities including a well-equipped control room. The initiative aims to integrate all departments and prepare for disasters in each department. Ganesh Sonune, deputy commissioner, PMC disaster management department, said that the civic body has taken a proactive approach to identifying and addressing emerging flood-prone areas. 'We have prepared and uploaded our flood control plan for the upcoming monsoon on the PMC website. The duty of each officer involved in the plan has been framed in detail. Fire brigade officers have been requested to provide information about all emergency calls received during the last two monsoons that will help us identify weak spots and curtail situations there,' Sonune said. Earlier, waterlogging in Pune would primarily occur only when excess water was released from dams or reservoirs. However, the situation has drastically changed. Now, even moderate rainfall (35 mm to 40 mm) results in the accumulation of water that is knee-deep in several localities. Disturbingly, many of these areas were previously considered safe and free from flooding. All this points to a systemic failure in urban planning, particularly maintenance and modernisation of stormwater drainage infrastructure. Activists have criticised the administration for its lack of foresight, pointing to clogged nullahs and poorly integrated drainage systems that are unable to handle the pressures of rapid urbanisation as well as erratic monsoon patterns. Undri resident Sunil Aiyer said, 'The emergence of new waterlogging spots across the city is a stark indicator of the pressing need for comprehensive flood management and urban infrastructure upgrades. It raises serious safety concerns for citizens, especially in terms of mobility, health risks, and emergency access during the rains. Unchecked urbanisation, narrowing of natural drainage channels, and inadequate maintenance of stormwater drains appear to be contributing to this worrisome trend. The increasing frequency and intensity of such incidents demands immediate attention from civic authorities to safeguard public life and restore confidence in Pune's infrastructure.' Jaymala Dhankikar, a member of the NIBM Annexe Forum, said, 'Infrastructure like roads, metro lines and flyovers has been constructed but what about stormwater drains? There is zero planning for them which is leading to flooding in areas near the Pune Metro and other infrastructural projects. The engineers are not paying attention, and it feels like the city has been abandoned. Citizens are suffering due to frequent and sudden flooding.'
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
PMC forms quick response teams for monsoon emergencies
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has constituted Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in all ward offices to tackle waterlogging and drain blockages during the monsoon. The teams will be on standby to respond urgently to rain-related emergencies across the city. Each team will work under the supervision of the assistant municipal commissioner and will include officers from the sewerage, road, motor vehicles, building and engineering departments at the ward level. The main task of the team will be to prevent waterlogging on roads and take immediate action in the event drains or sewers get blocked during heavy rain. On Tuesday, additional municipal commissioner B P Prithviraj issued an order to that effect and deputed QRTs to each ward office. Ganesh Sonune, head of the disaster management department of the PMC, said, 'We form QRTs every year but this time, we have made them more comprehensive. Officials from all key departments, along with ward-level officers, have been included in the teams. The teams now include engineers from the road, building permissions, drainage, and motor vehicles departments so that decisions can be taken on the spot with the help of the concerned officials.' PMC officials said that special machines like jetting, suction, grabbers, and JCBs will be available round-the-clock to support these teams. The teams will operate in both day- and night- shifts to ensure quick relief and smooth drainage during the rainy season. The remaining 20% of cleaning work is expected to be completed by June 7, officials said. 'The cleaning work is being carried out across the city in both day- and night- shifts using available machinery like jetting machines, suction recyclers, grab machines, and JCBs,' a senior official said. However, authorities acknowledged that despite pre-monsoon preparations, emergency blockages can occur during heavy rain leading to waterlogging or sewer overflow in certain areas. The QRTs are being formed to address such situations, they said.
