Pune: Viman Nagar Residents Frustrated by Civic Neglect: Social Activist Takes Legal Action Over Municipal Failures

Pune: Viman Nagar, a bustling area in Pune known for its malls, five-star hotels, colleges, large markets, and IT offices, is facing severe civic neglect. Overgrown grass, crumbling roads, scattered gravel, piles of mulch, and hanging cables have turned the area into a mess, leaving residents frustrated and angry. The situation, which has persisted for years, has now reached a breaking point.

The area’s proximity to the airport results in heavy traffic on its roads, yet the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has failed to address the numerous issues plaguing Viman Nagar. Garbage dumped on footpaths, beggars occupying public spaces, and unauthorised pasted advertisements cluttering the streets have further exacerbated the problems.

The disrepair extends to locations such as Ganapati Mandir Chowk, Datta Mandir Chowk, Sri Krishna Chowk, Rajiv Nagar Road and Chowk, Sakore Nagar Area, and Vimantal Road, where potholes and poor-quality road gravel are common sights. The road leading to MHADA has become virtually unusable for pedestrians due to knee-high grass and littered footpaths.

The situation is equally dire in the Viman Nagar Chowk and CCD Chowk areas, where hundreds of beggars have set up huts on the streets and footpaths. The pedestrian subway in the area has been closed due to waterlogging, further inconveniencing residents. In the MHADA society area, a lack of cleanliness has led to health issues among residents, while heaps of garbage accumulate in Ganapati Mandir Chowk and hotel waste is regularly dumped on the road behind Anand Vidyaniketan.

Frustrated by the lack of action from the PMC, Kanij Sukhrani, a local social activist, has taken a bold stand. Arguing that “if there is no service, we will not pay property tax,” Sukhrani filed a case in the consumer court in 2021, which is now nearing its final hearing. He has accused the PMC of failing in all aspects of civic management, including roads, footpaths, cleanliness, and traffic planning. Sukhrani emphasised that, despite paying taxes, residents are not receiving the services they deserve.

In response to the mounting complaints, Hanumant Sawali, Health Inspector for Viman Nagar, assured that the overgrown grass on the footpaths would be removed and the area would be cleaned. Meanwhile, Sanjay Pol, Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Roads Zonal Office, admitted that he has only recently taken up his position and has not yet visited Viman Nagar. He promised that all problems would be addressed gradually.

As the situation in Viman Nagar continues to deteriorate, residents are losing patience, and with elections on the horizon, many feel that political leaders are more focused on their campaigns than on solving the area’s pressing issues.