Pune: Wakad-Tathawade Residents From 38 Housing Societies Unite, Threaten Protest Over Unchecked Pollution and Traffic Chaos
Pune: Wakad-Tathawade Residents From 38 Housing Societies Unite, Threaten Protest Over Unchecked Pollution and Traffic Chaos
Pune, November 10, 2025: In a powerful show of collective grievance, residents from over 38 housing societies in the Wakad-Tathawade area have submitted a formal complaint to the Pimpri-Chinchwad police, demanding immediate action against rampant traffic violations and severe air pollution caused by heavy vehicles.
The complaint, submitted under the banner of the Wakad-Tathawade Housing Societies Forum, represents thousands of residents from societies including Elite Homes, Trinity Greens, Kumar Piccadilly, and Vision ACE. The residents pinpoint the constant movement of dumpers, cement mixers, and vehicles from Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants as the primary source of excessive dust, air pollution, and daily traffic gridlock.
A major point of contention is the alleged flouting of existing time restrictions, which prohibit heavy vehicle movement between 8 am and 12 pm, and 4 pm and 9 pm. “We are not against development, but it cannot come at the cost of our health and safety. The authorities must ensure that rules are strictly implemented,” a forum representative stated.
Residents have provided specific accounts of the problems they face.
Purushottam Patil, Secretary of Elite Homes Cooperative Housing Society, explained the gravity of the situation: “The problem of increased air pollution in the Shani Mandir to Marunji road area has become serious. Our expectation is that there should be traffic control and regular cleaning for this. Despite our repeated follow-ups, no work has been done by the municipality so far, which is why we have decided to stage a protest march in front of the Division D office on November 14th under the banner of the Wakad-Tathawade Housing Societies Forum on behalf of 39 societies in the area.”
Echoing the health concerns, Prashant Kate, Chairman of Trinity Greens Housing Society, highlighted the root cause: “There are many RMC plants on that road from Shani Mandir to Marunji. Cement trucks are parked idly, leading to increased dust levels. Senior citizens are particularly troubled by this.” He expressed frustration over delayed action, noting, “We had given notices on this issue back in January, but no concrete action was taken. That is why we have now written to the Wakad police.”
In response, the police have acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.
Traffic PI Madhukar Thorat provided a detailed breakdown of the enforcement measures. He explained the jurisdictional challenge: “The Shani Mandir road to Marunji is partly under PCMC limits and partly under Marunji Grampanchayat, which is an underdeveloped area with heavy vehicle traffic due to RMC plants and container godowns.”
He assured that action is being taken: “We have set up a fixed point at the border where the societies are located. During the prohibited hours, 8 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm, we restrict heavy vehicles on that road and take action against violators. This is the solution to the traffic issue.” On the pollution front, he noted that the matter also falls under the purview of the Pollution Control Department.
The collective, citing their fundamental right to a clean environment, has called for police intervention to enforce traffic bans, curb illegal RMC operations, and deploy ward-level marshals. With the November 14 protest deadline looming, all eyes are on the civic and police authorities to address the long-standing grievances of the residents.
