Pune: Residents, School Children Protest Unsafe Roads and Khadki Railway Gate Hazards

Range Hills, 4th October 2025: Hundreds of residents, parents, schoolchildren, and citizen groups staged a peaceful protest at Khadki Railway Station today, demanding urgent action to address safety concerns around the newly opened station gate. The gate, located directly opposite St. Thomas School, has raised alarms over potential risks to children and daily commuters.

The protest began in the morning, with students and staff of St. Thomas School highlighting the daily dangers of crossing the congested Sai Mandir junction. In the evening, former corporator Prakash Dhore led the demonstration alongside the Managing Committee of Mont Vert Pristine and other neighborhood societies, who helped mobilize the community.

Community reformist Anne Anish noted that Khadki station handles over 4,500 daily commuters, with 51 trains stopping here. “If Khadki is upgraded to a terminal, footfall will increase, and the danger to school children—whose school is directly opposite the station—will only worsen,” she said.

Residents also criticized the lack of transparency. “Two months ago, we were told the gate was only for construction purposes. Now we hear it has been converted into three gates. Where is the published railway blueprint?” questioned citizens.

Former corporator and social activist Prakash Dhore assured residents that he would continue to raise their concerns with authorities until a safer, transparent solution is implemented.

The protesters, representing Aundh Road and Bhau Patil Road Citizens’ Associations and members of various political parties, presented the following demands:
Shift the newly opened gate at least 200 metres away from the school zone.
Immediate road repairs, installation of dividers, and traffic signals at critical junctions.
Regular deployment of traffic police and restrictions on heavy vehicles in residential lanes.
Citizens emphasized that they are not opposed to development but insisted it must not compromise public safety or cause daily inconvenience.

In a rare show of unity, leaders from different political parties joined the protest, including Prakash Dhore, Anne Anish, Anand Chhajed, Sunny Nimhans, Amit Murkute, Sunita Wadekar, Nirbhavane Tai, and Vinod Ranpise.