Pune: After 20-Year Struggle, Undri to Get Public Garden; PMC Issues Formal Approval
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Undri, 12th May 2026: In a landmark victory for community-led advocacy, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) today officially sanctioned the development of a sprawling 12,635.86 square-meter public garden at Undri Hilltop. The formal approval letter was issued today by Dr. Ashok Ghorpade, Head of the PMC Garden Department, bringing an end to a two-decade-long wait for the residents of Mohammadwadi and Undri.
The project, located on Survey No. 4 (Part) and 21 (Part) in Mauje Undri, is more than just a civic amenity; it is a memorial born out of tragedy. For years, the densely populated Hilltop area lacked any open green space, forcing residents to walk on dangerous, congested roads. This negligence culminated in a heartbreaking incident where a retired Indian Armed Forces veteran lost his life in a road accident while on his morning walk.
Refusing to let the veteran’s death be in vain, the Mohammadwadi Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF) intensified its campaign for a dedicated garden. The foundation identified an idle “Amenity Space” and relentlessly pursued the matter with civic authorities.
The tide turned following a personal site visit by PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. After witnessing the lack of safe walking spaces firsthand, the Commissioner fast-tracked the approval process. Dr. Ashok Ghorpade subsequently finalized the technicalities, issuing the formal order today.
“This garden was not given to us; it was earned through persistence and the quiet fury of a community that refused to be overlooked,” said Sunil Koloti, a member of MURWDF. “Every tree that grows here will be in memory of the hero we lost.”
The garden design and layout are already being prepared by the Green Yatra Organisation. The community has proposed naming the park “Sindoor Smriti Vatika” to honor the memory of the fallen soldier whose sacrifice became the catalyst for this green revolution.
The new facility will feature dedicated walking tracks, play areas for children, and shaded seating for senior citizens, ensuring that residents no longer have to risk their lives for a breath of fresh air.
