Looking ahead 2026: Fifty monsoons, zero potholes: Pune’s iconic road turns 50 on January 1
Construction of the road began in 1974, and on January 1, 1976, the 2.3-kilometre stretch was handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation with an unprecedented written guarantee—there would be no repairs needed for a decade.
On January 1, 2026, Puneites would do well to revisit the iconic Jangli Maharaj Road—a stretch that has transformed dramatically over the last 50 years. Once a quiet area “in the back of beyond,” it is now the city’s bustling hub, with bumper-to-bumper traffic, showrooms, malls, and a metro rumbling overhead.
Yet one element remains unchanged: the road itself. In width, length, and quality, it stands unblemished—no cracks, no dents, no potholes, a rarity in India today.
Construction of the road began in 1974, and on January 1, 1976, the 2.3-kilometre stretch was handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation with an unprecedented written guarantee—there would be no repairs needed for a decade, or the entire road would be redone free of cost. Five decades later, the promise endures.
Veteran journalist Rajeev Sabde, who watched the construction as a student in the early 1970s, calls it an “engineering marvel” in his book Vartanchya Jhala Katha (News that became stories). “I was there watching it being built,” he recollects, noting how it outshines every other Indian road.
Ironically, inspiration came from Mumbai—now infamous for being the city with the most potholes in India. In 1972, Maharashtra endured a severe drought; in 1973 followed by torrential rains that turned Pune’s roads into craters. Advocate Shrikant Shirole, chairman of the standing committee in 1973, often travelled to Mumbai and noticed its superior roads. Civil engineers explained the difference in construction. “My response was–then let’s bring that method here,” says Shirole, then in his 20s.
He contacted Recondo, a company run by two Parsi brothers from their Churchgate office. They surveyed Pune and chose JM Road for its width, length, and light traffic. “In fact those days it was known as the 80 feet road rather than the road named after the Jangli Maharaj Temple that has been there since 1890,” adds Capt C M Chitale (72), whose family has owned Prakash Lodge on the road since 1952. The lodge has evolved from a maternity home to offices and showrooms, its retro façade well-preserved though.
“Recondo asked for Rs 10 lakh–a huge amount in those days when petrol was 80 paise a litre and gold was around Rs 400 per ten grams. But they said the road will come with the guarantee that nothing will happen to it for ten years and if even a dent appears they will redo the entire road free of cost. On our part we had to promise not to allow any digging on the road or its sides for any purpose. I offered them Rs 15 lakh–as I knew that’s what it would cost. In a departure from rules I did not float any tender and after getting the members of the standing committees’ approval gave the company the go-ahead,” says Shirole.
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Recondo’s machines rolled into Pune in 1974, Hot Mix plant blazing at Gultekdi and work began. Subcontractor Mohanlal Mathrani’s son Chandan remembers a much-lesser known but perhaps a most important detail of the entire project—Englishman Norman Henry Taylor, the quiet genius behind JM Road’s immortality. “My father spoke of him all the time,” says Chandan.
Born in 1903 in Essex, England, Taylor did his B.Sc in engineering from London University and became a civil engineer who spent many years in Singapore working for the municipality there. In 1935 he returned to England and became managing director of Recondo-Malatex London. Around the same time he earned worldwide patents for three innovations—reconditioning of asphalt road surfacing and paving mixtures, apparatus for measuring stability of asphalt paving mixtures and use of rubber bitumen mixtures in road surfacing.
In 1947 Taylor, as founding director of Recondo Limited, bagged a contract for a project in Bombay, as Mumbai was then known. He relocated to Bombay in 1950, introducing advanced “hot mix” asphalt technology that entailed heating bitumen and aggregates to 160°C, coating evenly, then laying and compacting while hot for a durable, crack-resistant surface. JM Road was future-proofed with ducts for cables and storm water drains. Though resurfaced in 2013–14, the no-dig clause has held for 50 years.
“Initially we had planned a function to commemorate the golden jubilee of this road but now with the Code of Conduct in place, we have postponed the event to after the civic elections,” says Shirole.
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But why didn’t Pune replicate the road, is the question. Shirole’s answer is short and bitter. “The municipal corporation waited five years to test Recondo’s claims. By then a new committee was in place and chose cheap tenders over miracles,” he says wryly, adding, “We spent 15 lakh once and saved crores in repairs, thousands in hospital bills, and hundreds of lives. No one counts what doing it right is worth. Integrity has vanished.” Only 2.3 km of perfect asphalt remains.
As this achievement is celebrated in the new year, the hope is that it should serve as a reminder of Taylor’s formula for a flawless road — something Indian cities have long forgotten.
Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry.
Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune.
Professional Background
Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city.
Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include:
The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author.
Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023)
Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024)
Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative
and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues.
Core Column: "Against All Odds"
Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges.
Recent notable articles (2025)
The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic.
Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer.
Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape:
1. Personal Narratives & Closure
"'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal.
"A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US.
"'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune.
2. Civic & Heritage
"'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs.
"'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties.
3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations
"Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals.
"Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation.
Signature Style
Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan.
She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements.
X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More
