Pune: Shivajinagar MLA, corporators fail to address students’ security, traffic congestion in the area

Pune: A pre-poll survey finding has revealed that citizens in the Shivajinagar Assembly constituency are not happy with their MLA and corporators. This was evident during the Lok Sabha election, in which MP Murlidhar Mohol got a slender margin over his rival in the segment.

The President of India’s office brought to the notice bad road conditions in this segment during President Draupadi Murmu’s visit to the city recently. Citizens are fed up with traffic congestion and bad roads in the Shivajinagar constituency.

The highest number of slums are located in the area. Special efforts are needed to raise the standard of living of hutment dwellers here.

Moreover, a large number of schools and colleges are located in the segment. There has been a need to work for the security of students from these institutions. The BJP has the highest number of corporators from this segment and party MLA Siddharth Shirole has served two consecutive terms. However, these representatives have failed to address the issues in the Shivajinagar area, said citizens.

Most of the main leaders from the segment joined the BJP in the last civic elections. The Congress organisation was weak during the Lok Sabha poll but the BJP candidate got a thin margin in the constituency.

The Mula and Mutha rivers were flooded during the rainy season this year. Moreover, water discharge from the Khadakwasla Dam raised water levels further. Residential areas along Sinhagad Road were inundated. The Chief Minister took note of the floods and visited the area.

However, many slums in the Patil Estate, Aundh areas were also under water and caused heavy damage to hutments. But nobody visited these slums, complained the slum-dwellers from these areas.

A multi-level Metro flyover is under construction at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Chowk. The earlier flyover was demolished during the pandemic. But the new construction was delayed. All roads leading up to Ganeshkhind Road are in a bad shape. Commuters find it very risky to travel on these roads during the rainy season. The President’s cavalcade also suffered traffic and road issues in the area. The civic body and the people’s representatives were not bothered about this. The current condition of the road is still very bad.

The Mhada flood-affected people’s colonies face major issues in the area. The State Government did not take any action for many years. As a result, residents repaired old houses or rebuilt new ones with multiple storeys. The civic body charged triple tax on such houses. As the original issue of the colonies awaited a solution, MLA Siddharth Shirole recently raised it in the State Assembly as the Assembly polls approached. The State Government immediately stayed the hiked tax recovery. Big banners were set up to show off the ‘achievement’.

Proposals to build two tunnels through Vetal Tekdi and an elevated road from Balbharati to Paud Phata have been presented. Environmentalists have opposed these projects. But the MLA has never clarified his stand on the issues. He retained the corporator’s post even after getting elected as an MLA. Residents from his ward are deprived of civic facilities.

He was appointed as a director of the PMPML. He had a good opportunity to improve the public transport in the city. But he lost it. The PMPML services have still not improved. This has resulted in a rising number of private vehicles, which has compounded traffic issues in the city.