PUNE: Residents from eastern Pune areas—Wadgaon Sheri, Wagholi, Lohegaon, and Dhanori—gathered outside the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) building on Tuesday to voice their demands for better infrastructure. They approached civic chief Naval Kishore Ram, highlighting years of inadequate facilities that have hindered their daily lives.
The community requested a consistent water supply, completion of unfinished roads, enhancements to the drainage system, and improved healthcare services. They also called for the establishment of parks, installation of streetlights, and approval of local development plans.
Frustration over civic negligence was palpable among the protesters. “We pay taxes like everyone else, yet our roads are full of potholes, and we have to buy drinking water at inflated prices. The supply is so erratic that we’ve stopped relying on the PMC,” stated Neha Jadhav from Wagholi.
Rajesh Patil of Lohegaon remarked, “Our parking areas get flooded every monsoon due to blocked or incomplete drainage lines. We’ve waited too long for basic safety measures and are tired of dealing with local authorities.”
Manisha Kulkarni from Dhanori expressed her concerns about the local civic hospital in Yerawada, saying, “It’s lacking essential medical facilities. We deserve well-equipped healthcare for our families, not empty promises.”
Local activist Sanket Galande emphasized, “The community is frustrated because their real issues have been overlooked for years. We won’t back down until these neighborhoods receive the same attention as central Pune. Access to water, roads, and healthcare is a right, not a luxury.”
The protesters also advocated for the creation of gardens and playgrounds in designated areas, upgrading cemeteries, finalizing pending development plans for recently merged villages, installing streetlights, establishing community centers for seniors and women, beautifying local temples, and ensuring effective waste management.
PMC officials who met with the delegations acknowledged the grievances. Ram assured attendees, “We will prioritize reviewing the petition. The relevant departments will address the issues raised.”
