Overhead Cables Endanger Pune Citizens, Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole Urges Strict Enforcement Of Duct Policy In Assembly
Overhead Cables Endanger Pune Citizens, Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole Urges Strict Enforcement Of Duct Policy In Assembly
Renuka Suryavanshi
Pune, July 3, 2025: Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole on Thursday raised the issue of hazardous overhead cables in Pune during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly, calling for urgent enforcement of the state’s duct policy.
Highlighting the growing menace of loosely-hung internet and electrical wires criss crossing city roads, Shirole pointed to a recent incident near Nanded City where a snapped cable grazed a motorist’s neck, leading to a road accident. “Such incidents are no longer rare; these unregulated, tangled wires pose a serious safety threat to citizens and mar Pune’s urban aesthetics,” Shirole said.
The duct policy, approved in 2018 to streamline underground cabling, remains largely unimplemented, the MLA noted. He blamed the lack of execution on exorbitant charges of ₹12,000 per running meter levied by municipal bodies for laying ducts. “Private companies, deterred by these high costs, continue to opt for cheaper overhead installations, risking public safety and giving our city an unkempt appearance,” he added.
Shirole urged the government to rationalize ducting charges and prioritize the policy’s statewide implementation. He also proposed integrating internet, CCTV, electricity, and communication lines into a single underground network for improved efficiency.
“To build safe, modern, and visually clean cities, the duct policy must be enforced without delay,” Shirole emphasized.
The issue has sparked discussions among urban planners and citizen groups, who say Pune’s rapid growth demands urgent infrastructure reforms to ensure safety and sustainable development.
