Pune News: Handewadi Residents Face Frequent Power Outages Amid Ongoing Road-Widening Work
Pune News: Handewadi Residents Face Frequent Power Outages Amid Ongoing Road-Widening Work
Pune. 16 June, 2026: Residents of Handewadi continue to face recurring power outages as ongoing road-widening work along the Hadapsar–Dive Ghat stretch has reportedly damaged underground electricity infrastructure, disrupting power supply across several housing societies.
According to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officials, excavation work carried out for the road expansion project has exposed and damaged underground power cables. The utility company maintains that the cables should have been shifted before excavation commenced.
The disruptions have affected nearly 6,000 flats across 18 residential societies, leaving residents frustrated and concerned about safety. Several incidents of residents getting trapped in elevators during power failures have been reported.
Ashish Ingale, a representative of Voice of Handewadi and Handewadi Residents Association, said the recurring outages had forced residents to stage a protest recently. He added that a meeting with concerned officials was held on June 9 to seek a resolution to the issue. According to Ingale, the power cuts have become so frequent that residents have occasionally found themselves stranded in lifts during sudden outages.
Residents claim that despite repeatedly approaching authorities and staging a protest to draw attention to the issue, a lasting solution has yet to be implemented.
Pranay Patil, Chairman of Fortune Society, said residents in areas falling under the rural division continue to experience daily power cuts lasting one to two hours. He noted that outages frequently occur between 7 am and 8 am, disrupting daily routines.
Patil further claimed that although the highway roadwork has largely been completed, the related electrical infrastructure work remains unfinished. He said residents had repeatedly questioned authorities about the delays and were compelled to protest after their concerns went unaddressed.
MSEDCL officials have warned that if the cable-shifting work is not completed before the monsoon intensifies, the exposed infrastructure could suffer further damage, resulting in prolonged disruptions. The affected power lines supply electricity to Handewadi through the Phursungi substation.
To address the issue, MSEDCL has proposed infrastructure upgrades, including a new power supply line from the high-voltage station at Punyadham and a backup-feed facility for the Undri–Autadewadi–Handewadi area. While work on these projects is underway, residents are still seeking a permanent solution, especially for societies covered under the utility’s rural division.
As development work continues, residents are urging authorities to speed up the remaining infrastructure work and ensure a reliable power supply for the rapidly growing suburb.
