Kalyani Nagar Residents Raise Alarm Over Pune Metro Noise, Demand Swift Action from MahaMetro

Kalyani Nagar, 9th April 2025: Residents of Kalyani Nagar have once again raised serious concerns over persistent noise pollution caused by Pune Metro trains, urging the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) to act immediately. Despite repeated complaints, follow-ups, and meetings over the past year, they allege that the promised solutions have not been implemented effectively.

In a letter dated April 1 addressed to MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar, the residents expressed frustration over the high-pitched squealing and squeaking noises generated by metro trains passing near their societies, along with loud public announcements at metro stations.

“We have been engaging with Metro officials for over a year now. While they did manage to resolve the noise issue briefly in mid-2024, the problem resurfaced in October, and it has only gotten worse since then,” said Akil Motiwala, a representative from Clover Watergardens.

According to the letter signed by representatives of multiple societies, a meeting was held in November 2024 with Metro official Hemant Sonawane, where residents were informed that two dedicated teams had been appointed—one for short-term fixes and another to develop a permanent solution within six months.

However, in a follow-up meeting on March 7, 2025, residents were reportedly told that no updates could be provided about the teams or their progress. “We were told that two agencies were working on this since November, yet no data, measurements, or reports have been shared with us till date. That’s unacceptable,” said Ajay Sawant from Landmark Garden society.

Residents claim that despite assurances, no team has visited the affected sites to conduct fresh noise measurements since October 2024. “We were promised immediate post-Holi inspections, but even that hasn’t happened. It’s been months of silence, except for the noise we hear every day,” Motiwala added.

The recurring noise—described by residents as “squeaking and squealing metal”—has reportedly taken a toll on the mental health of many living near the metro line. “This isn’t just an inconvenience anymore. It’s affecting sleep, work, and overall well-being,” said Sawant.

The societies are now urging the authorities to replicate the same steps taken in June 2024, when the issue had been temporarily resolved. “If those steps worked then, why not try them again? We are tired of waiting for new experiments while our peace is disrupted daily,” said Motiwala.

The letter, also marked to senior Metro officials and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, calls for urgent attention to the matter, stressing that residents have shown patience for nearly a year. “We have full faith in Metro’s ability to fix this. But the delays and lack of communication are testing that trust,” it reads.

As the metro continues to expand its operations across Pune, this episode highlights the growing challenge of managing urban infrastructure while safeguarding the quality of life for residents.

MahaMetro has yet to respond publicly to the latest appeal.