PMC Budget 2025: Key Demands From Pune Residents For Roads, Water, And Healthcare

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is expected to present its 2025-26 budget in the first week of March, with residents eager to see how funds will be allocated. The administration is relying on ₹2,000 crore in financial aid from the state and central governments. A significant portion—₹1,200 crore—is proposed for road infrastructure, with a focus on 33 key routes, including 15 high-traffic roads.

Citizen Demands For Budget Allocation

Residents across Pune have highlighted the need for better healthcare, improved roads, efficient waste management, and enhanced security. There are growing concerns over the city’s water infrastructure, drainage systems, and public safety, with many demanding CCTV installation and encroachment-free footpaths.

The Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation has emphasized key expectations from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for urgent inclusion in the upcoming budget:

• Speed up the DP Plan for Undri, ensuring implementation of roads, water supply, sewage pipelines, infrastructure, CCTV cameras, and footpaths.
• Accelerate water pipeline work and construct large water tanks in designated amenity spaces.
• Install sewerage lines, as many societies still rely on septic tanks or inadequate STP systems.
• Take over and maintain public roads to ensure proper upkeep.
• Install street lights to address security risks for pedestrians and motorists at night.
• Regulate construction approvals, preventing blanket permissions for new projects unless developers provide sustainable solutions for water supply, sewerage, and infrastructure. Residents are already bearing significant costs while also paying property taxes. 

“We need a comprehensive plan to tackle water issues, ensuring a reliable and equitable supply for all residents. The budget must commit to the promises displayed, with transparent and actionable steps to address our concerns. We demand well-paved roads and strong, clean footpaths that are free of encroachments, making our city and villages safer and more accessible. Additionally, the PMC should deploy monitoring vehicles to prevent illegal garbage burning and ensure systematic waste collection and disposal, keeping our localities clean and healthy. We demand action, not just promises. This budget should reflect the needs of every Punekar and deliver on the commitments made,” said Monica Sharma, a Kalyani nagar resident.

“As a concerned citizen, I strongly believe that the Pune Municipal Corporation’s budget must prioritize adequate funding for healthcare and hospitals. The privatization of healthcare services is a recipe for disaster, and we must focus on strengthening our public healthcare infrastructure. But the question remains, where are the crores of taxpayers money going? The city’s water infrastructure is in shambles, gardens and drainage systems require significant investment, and the condition of our roads is appalling, ” said Jaymala Dhankikar, Social Activist, NIBM Annexe Residents Forum, Pune.

“Furthermore, the PMC’s claim of having no funds for CCTV installation is a cause of concern. How can we guarantee women’s safety in the city without a functional surveillance system? The PMC’s priorities seem skewed, and it’s time for them to take responsibility for the welfare and safety of citizens. We demand transparency and accountability in the budget allocation, and a clear plan to address the city’s pressing issues,” added Dhankikar. 

Deepak Patil, Chairman, Kharadi Housing Welfare Association stated that PMC needs to divide the budget among various development projects in the areas around Pune.  
He listed out the areas where the budget needs to be allocated and implemented. 

1. Proper utilisation of Amenity spaces. Plan for its development or else its getting encroached for illegal activities.
⁠2. Good allocation of Budget for Infrastructure: Roads, Drainage line, Proper collection of  Dry Waste
⁠3. Improvement in Public Transport : Metro Connectivity to extreme ends, PMPML higher number of trips
⁠4. Water supply & monitoring of its contaminations. Good Supply of water to Societies as per standard water supply / person

Qaneez Sukhrani, Convenor – Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum, stated “The funds for merged villages should come from the state government, not from PMC’s existing limits, which are already financially strained. Property tax should be reduced, not increased, as PMC fails to provide the facilities listed in the property tax bill. The corporation must focus on essential projects such as scientific road laying, repair and maintenance, water supply, garbage management, and designated hawker zones, rather than spending on non-essential projects like flyovers, bridges, statues, and memorials. Additionally, PMC must allocate a portion of funds for land acquisition of the 1987 DP arterial road to address congestion bottlenecks.”

Additionally, civic activists have stressed  the importance of realistic budget planning, urging the allocation of funds for pending projects like the cancer hospital, stormwater drainage, and education sector improvements. Calls for better management of civic hospitals, increased staffing, and an adequate supply of medicines have also been made.

Environmental advocates are pushing for long-term financial planning that includes climate resilience, pollution control, and groundwater recharge to improve the overall quality of life in the city.

As PMC prepares to unveil its budget, residents hope for a balanced and accountable allocation that addresses Pune’s pressing civic needs.