No ARAI, No HCMTR, No Balbharati-Paud Phata Road: VTBKS Issues Demands Ahead of Vidhan Sabha Elections
No ARAI, No HCMTR, No Balbharati-Paud Phata Road: VTBKS Issues Demands Ahead of Vidhan Sabha Elections
Pune, October 2024: The Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS) has released a list of demands ahead of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, aimed at protecting the city’s beloved Vetal Tekdi from multiple infrastructure projects. The citizens’ movement gained momentum on Sunday, when a large gathering of Pune residents marched from Aapla Maruti to the quarry and back, holding placards with slogans such as “Vote for Vetal Tekdi,” “Our Tekdi, Our Right,” and “Save Tekdi, Yellow Ribbon Campaign.”
The event, attended by people of all ages, was organized to reaffirm their commitment to preserving the city’s natural hills and opposing several government projects that threaten to harm them. A citizens’ manifesto was also released, which will serve as a call to action for candidates in the Vidhan Sabha elections to prioritize the protection of Pune’s hills.
Key Demands
The VTBKS manifesto demands that candidates actively oppose the following projects:
- No ARAI Expansion on Vetal Tekdi: Residents are firmly against any expansion of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on Vetal Tekdi, fearing it will further degrade the environment.
- No High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR): The proposed HCMTR, a major road project, has drawn heavy criticism due to its potential environmental damage to the city’s hills.
- No Balbharati-Paud Phata Road: The long-debated Balbharati-Paud Phata road project, which will cut through Vetal Tekdi, is seen as an unnecessary and destructive development.
- No Panchavati-Sutardhara-Gokhalenagar Tunnels: The plan for twin tunnels connecting these areas would permanently alter the landscape of Vetal Tekdi, a move the citizens are adamantly against.
The residents highlighted the need for improving PMPML services (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited) as a sustainable alternative to these capital-intensive transport projects.
Citizen Participation and Manifesto
The march was accompanied by speeches from VTBKS members, urging people to vote for candidates who support the preservation of Vetal Tekdi and other natural resources in Pune. The manifesto emphasizes the importance of making environmental issues, especially the protection of hills, a key part of the Vidhan Sabha election agenda.
