Pune: Residents Launch Citizen-LedManifesto To Shape PMC Election Agenda

Pune, December 18, 2025: With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections for 2026 officially announced, citizens across multiple neighbourhoods have begun mobilising to ensure that their everyday concerns find a place at the centre of the civic agenda. From Baner–Balewadi and Pashan to Kalyani Nagar, resident groups are coming together to prepare citizen-driven manifestos, signalling a shift towards participatory and accountability-focused local governance.

Baner Balewadi Pashan 

In Prabhag 9—covering Baner–Balewadi, Sus–Mahalunge, Pashan and Sutarwadi—long-standing issues such as water supply, traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, inadequate infrastructure, cleanliness, safety, and the protection of green spaces are gaining renewed attention. Rising air, noise and construction-related pollution, along with their impact on public health and quality of life, have also emerged as key concerns.

Against this backdrop, the Baner Balewadi Pashan Residents Association (BBPRA) and the Baner Balewadi Nagrik Manch (BBNM) have jointly launched a Citizens’ Manifesto initiative titled “My vote matters and my voice too.” The initiative aims to create a non-partisan, citizen-centric manifesto shaped entirely by public participation. Organisers said the document will reflect residents’ lived experiences, key issues, suggested solutions and a long-term vision for sustainable development in Prabhag 9, and will be presented to all candidates contesting the upcoming elections.

Residents have been invited to share their views through a Google Form, email submissions and direct interactions with citizen groups across localities. According to organisers, a manifesto rooted in widespread participation can serve as a strong roadmap for balanced and inclusive development.

Kalyani Nagar 

A similar push is visible in Kalyani Nagar, where Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar (TSKN) has prepared a clear charter of civic demands for political parties and aspirants. 

Residents of Kalyani Nagar presented this charter of demands, calling for all key issues to be taken up at the Parliament level. They said their vision is to build a clean, green and healthy Pune, making the city one of the best places to live.

“Kalyani Nagar deserves governance that protects peace, not policies that invite chaos. For women, senior citizens, and families, safety is not optional—it is foundational. Reliable water supply, walkable footpaths, functional drainage, and clean surroundings are basic rights, not privileges. Unchecked commercialisation, misuse of Change of Use permissions, noise pollution, and garbage burning are steadily eroding both safety and dignity in our neighbourhood. We are asking for leadership that is present, decisive, and accountable. Not promises—but timely action. Kalyani Nagar’s residents are aware, organised, and determined to safeguard the calm and character of our locality,” said Monica Sharma, Kalyani Nagar resident

“For women, civic neglect is not just inconvenience..it is a safety issue. Poor lighting, broken footpaths, illegal bars, and unchecked nightlife increase vulnerability. Noise and crowds late at night create fear, not vibrancy. Our corporator must treat women’s safety as central to governance, not as an afterthought. Regular patrolling, enforcement, and clean public spaces are essential for women to move freely and confidently” informed Yasmin Charania, resident of Kalyani nagar.

“Kalyani Nagar is facing a slow environmental emergency. Garbage burning, untreated sewage, construction dust, and traffic emissions are pushing air and water quality to dangerous levels. These are not invisible problems — they directly affect our lungs, our children’s health, and our future. We expect our corporator to treat environmental protection as a core responsibility, not an optional agenda. Zero tolerance to garbage burning, proper waste segregation, functional STPs, and clean air must become non-negotiable priorities,”  stated Rajeshwari Lakhani, resident of kalyani nagar.

Mohamadwadi Undri Pisoli 

The challenges faced by the villages merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation in 2017 remain significantly different from those of the old city areas, as basic development is yet to take shape due to delays in finalising the Development Plan (DP). It took nearly eight years for the DP covering 32 merged villages to be prepared, resulting in a prolonged absence of planned infrastructure.

Mohamadwadi Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF) states, “Essential facilities such as DP roads, an organised water supply network and public amenities are still missing in these areas. Despite this, residents are being charged nearly double the property tax, adding to their sense of neglect and inequity. The situation poses a major challenge not only for the PMC administration but also for elected representatives, who now face the urgent task of initiating long-pending development works in the merged villages and addressing the growing frustration of residents.” 

As elections return after a prolonged gap, citizens across Pune insist that the democratic process must lead to responsive governance, asserting that the city’s growth cannot come at the cost of everyday civic hardships.