Pune: 1,000 Residents Of Mundhwa Stage Massive Protest, Demand Action On Water, Traffic And Road Issues
Angered by persisting road congestion and traffic bottlenecks, over 1000 residents of Mundhwa, Pune, staged a massive protest on June 25th. The demonstration aimed to draw attention to the lack of road widening initiatives and inadequate infrastructure in the Mundhwa Keshav Nagar area.
Sandeep Lonkar, Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, Pune City, and organizer of the protest, expressed discontent with the lack of development and facilities in Mundhwa over the past 70 years. While neighboring areas such as Kharadi, Hadapsar, Magarpatta, and Koregaon Park have experienced significant progress, Mundhwa has been left behind. Commuters face long travel times of 2 to 3 hours due to short and inappropriate roads connecting Mundhwa to nearby areas. Lonkar highlighted the unfulfilled promises made when Keshav Nagar was included in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) five to six years ago. He cautioned that if the road and traffic issues remain unaddressed, the protest would escalate and reach the PMC office.
Despite heavy rainfall in the city, the protest saw an impressive turnout of over 1000 enraged residents from Mundhwa.
Bharat Bhutade, a Mundhwa resident, shared his frustration with the persistent traffic congestion in the area. He emphasized the urgent need for improved road conditions and longer stretches for smoother travel.
The residents have put forth several demands, including the construction of flyovers or underpasses near Mahatma Phule Chowk, widening the Mahatma Phule Chowk Road by acquiring additional land, widening the roads from Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to Z Corner and Renuka Mata Mandir, removal of encroachments at Genba Chowk Lonkar Nagar and installation of traffic signals, installation of speed breakers between Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk and Z Corner, installation of road dividers and streetlights at various locations, and deployment of traffic personnel at Keshav Nagar Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk and Genba Chowk Lonkar Nagar.
The residents’ unified call for action highlights the urgency of addressing the pressing traffic and road challenges in Mundhwa. Their perseverance and determination serve as a strong message to the PMC and local authorities to prioritize the necessary infrastructure improvements for the benefit of the entire community.
Shreyas Vange
