1 day Ago By Anjali Jhangiani
1 2 3 Pune: On Sunday evening, over 200 local residents of south Pune areas like Mohammadwadi , NIBM Road and Undri took to the streets in a silent protest outside Vedant Society on NIBM-Undri Road demanding basic civic infrastructure in one of the city's fastest-growing residential belts. Standing in deafening silence with placards in hand, the residents participating in the agitation organised by the Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF) yet again demanded the bare minimum — something they have been doing for the last two-and-half decades. The demands include a development plan for Undri, clean drinking water, encroachment-free footpaths, safe and wide roads, functioning drainage, efficient police patrolling, accessible public transport, gardens and playgrounds, a community hall and a long-overdue fire station.
Mohammadwadi was included in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits in 1995 and Undri in 2017. However, even in 2025, large parts of the said areas lack piped water, adequate drainage, street lights and solid waste management. The most urgent concerns are damaged roads, inconsistent water supply and unchecked encroachment.
"I am a resident of Nyati Estate for 20 years and have seen the area deteriorate in every aspect," said Deepa Cheema, founder-director of MURWDF. "The main problem is presence of multiple residential projects with no proper infrastructure present. Why are the residents paying taxes? Basic amenities like water, drainage and roads are barely there.
We have made continuous efforts to reach the concerned authorities, but nothing has come of it. So far, it was deprivation of basic amenities, but we are fighting to save our lives now." Despite being a lucrative real estate hub dotted with upscale residential complexes and burgeoning commercial zones, many housing societies continue to rely on private water tankers and navigate pothole-ridden roads.
"Despite repeated complaints to PMC and appeals to local MLA and MP, no concrete action has come about. On Sunday, residents gathered out of compulsion and not choice to demand their right to live with dignity and safety," said Renuka Agarwal, a core member of the MURWDF. "The peaceful protest served as a powerful message to the authorities that voices from Undri and Mohammadwadi will no longer be ignored," she added.
The protest was part of a series of resident-led demonstrations being held since the last two years, sparked by repeated road accidents, health hazards from poor sanitation and rising cost of basic services. "I moved to Undri in 2005-06. What was once a serene and promising locality is a a tale of neglect and unfulfilled promises now," said Sunil Aiyer, a resident of Nyati Chesterfield and director of MURWDF.
"There has been no significant improvement after coming under PMC from being under the gram panchayat. In fact, taxes have escalated and the growth has become unplanned. All I hoped for is peace and dignity as a retired citizen.
Instead, we have been left frustrated," added Aiyer. The silence of the protest roared louder than words. It wasn't just about broken roads or overflowing drains — it was a protest against being nonchalantly dismissed, decade after decade, by the authorities.
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