Pune: Mahalunge–Balewadi Residents Seek Safe Footpath, Better Sanitation from PMC

Balewadi, 21st December 2025: Several housing societies in Mahalunge have approached the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), seeking urgent intervention over what they describe as prolonged neglect of essential civic infrastructure, with the absence of a pedestrian footpath emerging as a key concern.

The representation was submitted by the Mahalunge–Balewadi Housing Societies Forum, which speaks for residents of Kirti Elegant, Metro Jazz, Shroff Soleno, Essencia Heights, Aldea Espanol (Puraniks), Rivera Society, Sarthi Skybay, Godrej Riverhill, and Equilife Society. Although Mahalunge was brought under PMC jurisdiction over three years ago, residents say the transition has not translated into visible improvements on the ground.

According to the forum, a critical stretch of around 100 to 150 metres outside these housing complexes does not have a dedicated footpath, compelling pedestrians to walk on the carriageway. The risk is particularly acute for schoolchildren who commute daily to Educon International School, as well as senior citizens and other vulnerable pedestrians navigating heavy traffic on the road.

Residents have also flagged related civic issues along the same stretch, including clogged and overflowing drains, uncollected garbage, and deteriorating road conditions. These factors, they claim, have worsened both safety and sanitation, turning a routine commute into a daily hazard. The forum said repeated complaints to civic authorities in the past have failed to bring lasting solutions.

The affected societies together comprise nearly 5,000 flats, accommodating thousands of residents who depend on this road for daily travel, school access, and essential services. The absence of basic pedestrian infrastructure, residents argue, is inconsistent with the area’s rapid residential growth and its inclusion within municipal limits.

In their submission, the forum has called for three immediate measures: construction of a continuous and safe footpath along the affected road, regular desilting and cleaning of drains to prevent waterlogging and hygiene problems, and installation of adequate street lighting to improve visibility and security at night.

Urging the civic body to act without further delay, the residents have requested that the PMC treat the issue as a priority, noting that access to basic amenities is a core expectation of citizens living within the city’s limits. They maintain that timely civic action would significantly improve safety, cleanliness, and overall quality of life in Mahalunge.