Residents oppose PMC’s Rs 6.5 crore tender for beautification of Chandni Chowk; say ‘Basic facilities must be given priority’

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued a tender of Rs 6.5 crores for the beautification of Chandni Chowk area. However, Bavdhan residents say that preference must be given to providing basic facilities for citizens first.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Manish Deo, resident of Bavdhan & member of Bavdhan Citizens Forum said, “My stand is clear as a Bavdhankar that the PMC must give priority to work on & provide essential & basic facilities first. Skating groundwork is incomplete. Swimming pool work is incomplete. There are no proper roads, stormwater lines, drainage systems, street lights, and more in Bavdhan. These must be provided first, then beautification or any other work must be done by the PMC. We do not have any problem with beautification, in fact, we are proud of it & we welcome it, however first, provide necessary facilities for the citizens. Rs 6.5 crores is not a small amount at all. Hence, it must be spent for essential facilities for citizens first, then for beautification works.”

Deepa Prabhu, a resident of Bavdhan & Founder of Bavdhan Citizens Forum said, “The walkway work, which was supposed to happen on Chandani Chowk Flyover, cannot be seen happening. It is causing more inconvenience to people. I understand that beautification has been in the plan, but unless people get their basic amenities, I don’t think that spending so much on a beautification project would make any sense. Also, many pending issues like rickshaws standing in the wrong places, encroachments like vehicular parking, hawkers & vendors, etc are pending to be resolved. So, why aren’t basic amenities given priority? A letter has been given to the PMC regarding this.”

Sangram Patil, Junior Engineer, PMC Building Construction Department, said “There is a ramp coming down from Mulshi side to Kothrud & Warje. So, this beautification project is proposed to be constructed in the vacant plots available on that ramp. The project consists of constructing small gardens along with constructing statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Bronze which will be covered with gates. Currently, only a tender has been issued for this. Hence, after all the further procedures are done, the work for this project will begin.”

Shreyas Vange