Pune: Vetal Tekdi Protest Marks One-Year Anniversary Amidst Ongoing Opposition to Road Project
Punekars have long been protesting for the preservation of the Vetal Tekdi in the city, and today marks the one-year anniversary of these protests.
Today marks the 1st anniversary of the ‘Save the Vetal Tekdi’ protest.
पुण्यातील टेकड्या आणि निसर्ग वाचवायचा असेल तर धंगेकरांशिवाय पर्याय नाही!
— Mahi (@BrotherToGod) April 15, 2024
मोहोळला साधी कोथरुडमधली ARAI टेकडी वाचवता नाही आली पुणे काय सांभाळणार😡pic.twitter.com/DAlMSOijBo
This protest march and an extensive rally took place due to the opposing sentiments against constructing a 2.1 km long road from Bal Bharati to Paud Phata, proposed during the time. It was initiated by the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), an apolitical coalition party inclusive of citizen welfare groups and public development initiatives.
Today’s day is to commemorate the occasion of rallying against the proposition for the cause of saving the Vetal Tekdi or Vetal Hill, and thus, a protest took place. This signifies that the stance is the same and so is public opinion about the PMC’s road-building project with the construction of two tunnels as well.
It was held at 5 pm at the Vetal Baba Chowk on Senapati Bapat Road and concluded at the German Bakery Wunderbar Cafe on Law College Road at around 6:30 pm. It drew a substantial turnout in the number of protestors despite the constant rainfall. Approximately 2000 citizens were present in the rain, including Congress leader Ramesh Bagwe, the NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan and the former BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni. All these dignitaries participated in the ‘Save Vetal Tekdi’ walk. People of all ages joined the rally.
Recently, amidst the ongoing opposition towards the project, the VTBKS introduced a ‘Manifesto’ ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election polls. As part of the manifesto, the VTBKS has demanded that Pune’s new MP shall campaign for the preservation of Pune’s Tekdis, and put a stop to the proposed Bal Bharati to Paud Phata Road project.
Additionally, the VTBKS also called for the boycott of the High-Capacity Mass Transit Route or HCMTR, also known as the Inner Ring Road. They argued that these projects in totality would significantly damage Pune’s flora and fauna, changing the climatic conditions of the city over time. They demand that Vetal Tekdi be declared a Natural Heritage Site and a No Development, and No-Construction zone.
The PMC, however, refuses to back down on its original stance, and has reiterated this by emphasising that the planned road is necessary to relieve traffic congestion in the areas lying in the vicinity of Law College Road.
Ishika Kumar
