Balewadi Residents Push Pune MP for Road and Power Reforms
Balewadi residents have stepped up civic engagement, meeting Pune’s Member of Parliament to demand urgent infrastructure reforms ranging from unfinished roadwork to persistent power issues reflecting a growing citizen-led movement for accountable and sustainable urban governance.
During a weekend meeting at Balewadi, representatives from the Balewadi Welfare Federation (BWF) presented a detailed memorandum outlining critical civic concerns that have long impacted daily life and local development. Senior municipal and police officials, including the Additional Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), and the Assistant Commissioner of Aundh Ward Office, attended the discussion, signalling the seriousness of the matter.
The residents urged immediate completion of long-pending road projects connecting Balewadi High Street to Wakad Kaspate Vasti and Laxmi Mata Mandir to Jupiter Hospital. They also called for the construction of an underpass near Balewadi Stadium to ease congestion along the Mumbai–Bengaluru Highway a major urban artery that remains choked during peak hours.Traffic management dominated the discussions, with citizens demanding new signals at key junctions such as Sai Chowk and Mamta Chowk, alongside a traffic circle at Dasara Chowk to streamline vehicular flow. Officials were also urged to accelerate the development of a new MSEB sub-station to stabilise the area’s frequent power fluctuations that affect residential and commercial activity.
Public safety and civic discipline were other major concerns, as residents voiced complaints about nuisance caused by a local wine outlet and requested stricter enforcement of civic norms. Additionally, the Federation recommended establishing a new petrol pump in the Baner–Balewadi belt to meet growing vehicular demand in this fast-urbanising zone.
The MP assured residents of swift administrative action and directed PMC and MSEB officials to submit progress reports on the listed projects. The officials acknowledged that some works had been delayed due to overlapping jurisdictional approvals and funding gaps but assured that fresh timelines would be set in coordination with the concerned departments.Urban policy experts note that Balewadi’s civic issues mirror challenges faced by several rapidly growing suburbs across Pune where infrastructure expansion has not kept pace with real estate growth. They emphasised that sustainable urban development requires collaborative governance, active citizen participation, and transparent project monitoring.The Federation plans to hold a follow-up review with the concerned authorities to ensure on-ground progress. While the challenges are significant, the proactive approach from residents and government representatives offers hope for more responsive, sustainable, and equitable city planning in Pune’s western corridor.
