Pune: Bhugaon, Bhukum Residents’ Rasta Roko Protest Yields MSEDCL Promise Of Power Infrastructure Upgrade
Pune: Bhugaon, Bhukum Residents’ Rasta Roko Protest Yields MSEDCL Promise Of Power Infrastructure Upgrade
Pune, September 20, 2025 – Residents of Bhugaon and Bhukum villages successfully organized a ‘Rasta Roko Andolan’ on Saturday, September 20, 2024, to protest the persistent and severe electricity issues caused by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). The protest, which saw an overwhelming turnout of villagers and society members, highlighted chronic problems including frequent power outages, severe voltage fluctuations, and a dilapidated power infrastructure.
The demonstration brought attention to several long-standing grievances, including faulty distribution points (DPs), uninsulated wires, and a lack of timely response from MSEDCL officials.
Following the protest, an MSEDCL representative met with the villagers and made several key commitments:
New Substation: The MSEDCL has confirmed that the pre-tender process for a new substation near Vanaha has commenced. This new infrastructure is expected to significantly improve the power supply for both Bhugaon and Bhukum, as well as providing relief to neighboring areas like Bavdhan.
Temporary Supply: A temporary 22kV power supply has been initiated to address immediate issues and stabilize voltage.
Infrastructure Upgrade: The MSEDCL has also committed to replacing all faulty transformers with D.P.I.T. (Digital Power Information & Tracking) meters to monitor and reduce power loss, ensuring greater efficiency and reliability.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, a representative stated, “This ‘Rasta Roko’ was a necessary step to secure our basic right to a stable electricity supply. We are grateful for the community’s unity and for MSEDCL’s commitment to addressing our concerns. This is a clear reminder that when a community stands together, its voice cannot be ignored. We will continue to monitor the progress on the promised infrastructure upgrades.”
The protest was conducted peacefully and with the cooperation of local authorities, including the police.
