A Pune drainage pit at Gangadham Chowk in Maharishi Nagar has reportedly remained open for three days without barricades, warning signs or night lighting, raising concerns about pedestrian safety at one of the area’s busiest intersections.
Residents said the excavation, being carried out by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s drainage department, is located directly at the junction and is difficult to see after dark. Thousands of people use the intersection every day, including schoolchildren, senior citizens and women, according to local residents.
They said the absence of safety arrangements could expose pedestrians and motorists to the risk of falling into the pit, particularly at night or when people move away from traffic. Residents have demanded that barricades and warning boards be installed immediately and that lighting be provided until the work is completed and the excavation is filled.
The concern has emerged ten days after the death of 69-year-old Pradeep Pardeshi, who fell into a similar drainage pit near the fish market in Yerawada. According to the report, Pardeshi was struck by a rickshaw, fell into the deep pit, suffered serious injuries and later died during treatment. Residents in Yerawada had also raised concerns that the excavation lacked adequate safety arrangements.
Locals at Gangadham Chowk said the civic authorities and contractor appeared not to have acted on the lessons from the Yerawada incident. They also alleged that the site was not being properly monitored despite the excavation being located at a high-traffic intersection.
The work falls between Pune Municipal Corporation ward numbers 20 and 21. The municipal drainage department is responsible for the project, while the contractor’s name and the scheduled completion date were not provided in the report. The absence of barricading and lighting means that the excavation remains a visible safety concern while the work is under way.
Sheetal Wakade, assistant commissioner of the PMC’s Bibwewadi regional office, could not be reached for comment despite attempts to contact her, according to the report. Residents are seeking immediate safety measures at the site and continued protection until the drainage work is completed.
